Ion transport studies in the electrochemical treatment of tumors. Experiments and Simulations

F. MAGLIETTI; P. TURJANSKI; N. OLAIZ; S. MICHINSKI; C. SUAREZ; F. V. MOLINA; G. MARSHALL

University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, Estados Unidos

Conferencia; Gordon Research Conference in Bioelectrochemistry “The complex membrane in the electric field”; 2010

University of New England

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:ES;} span.apple-style-span {mso-style-name:apple-style-span; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Electrochemotherapy (ECT) consists in the passage of  cell-membrane-permeabilizing electric pulses through two or more electrodes inserted  locally in the tumor tissue combined with non-permeant or poorly-permeant anticancer drugs, thus potentiating their cell penetration and intrinsic citotoxicity. Measurements of electrochemical activity during in vitro gel ECT for experimental conditions typical to many in vitro studies in the literature reveal the presence of pH fronts emerging from both electrodes. Since these fronts might give rise to electrodenaturation fronts, an unwanted effect in clinical applications of electrochemotherapy,  it is important to quantify  them  in order to diminish its effects. A tracking technique is used to follow the space time evolution of pH fronts where it is found that they scale in time as t1/2.  The magnitude of pH fronts  in ECT is compared to that arising in similar in vitro gels under Electrotherapy (ECT with constant electric fields).  Experiments and theory seems to imply that pH fronts are immediate and substantial. Theoretical predictions suggest ways to diminish its adverse effects.