Pilot Study on the Enhancement of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) With Carbon Nanotubes (CNT)

Non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a new, minimally invasive technique that has shown great promise for the ablation of tumors [1]. The procedure involves placing electrodes into or around a targeted tissue and delivering a series of low energy (intense but short) electric pulses for approximately one minute. These pulses induce irreversible structural changes in the cell membranes of the targeted tissue that lead to cell death. Because IRE affects only a single molecular component of the treated area, the cell membrane, it is the first true molecular surgery. IRE has the ability to create complete and predictable cell ablation with a sharp transition between normal and necrotic tissue.