Abstract
Pulses of an electric field can induce cell fusion (electrofusion) or produce micropores in the cell membrane allowing materials in the media to enter (electroporation). These two techniques have wide application in science, medicine, and biotechnology (Zimmermann, 1982, 1986; Zimmermann and Pilwat, 1982; Hofmann and Evans, 1986). This chapter discusses the physical aspects and the design of instrumentation for the two techniques. It includes the electrical requirements for electrofusion and electroporation, the requirements of the electric generator, and the design of chambers for large-scale electrofusion and electroporation, hereafter referred to as electromanipulation of cells. Not all biological aspects such as characteristics of various cell lines (which are the subject of electromanipulation), genetic selection systems, optimal conditions for fusion and electroporation have been well characterized, but additional information will be found elsewhere in this volume.
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© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Hofmann, G.A. (1989). Cells in Electric Fields. In: Neumann, E., Sowers, A.E., Jordan, C.A. (eds) Electroporation and Electrofusion in Cell Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2528-2_26
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2528-2_26
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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