Graduation Year

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.E.E.

Degree Name

MS in Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.E.)

Degree Granting Department

Electrical Engineering

Major Professor

Andrew Hoff, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jaroszeski Mark, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Ferekides Christos, Ph.D.

Keywords

Corona Discharge, Electroporator, Gene Therapy, MOSFET, Pulsed Electric Fields

Abstract

Ever since mankind has started identifying the diseases, extensive work has been done, and pathologies are written identifying the cure for them. As technology progressed, the development in the field of pathologies also did. Thus, finding innovative and efficient ways to get the ‘cure’. With the advancement in drugs, the delivery methods for these drugs also have advanced. One such delivery method is gene therapy. This method is beneficial when genes are to be used to prevent diseases.

Gene therapy has been proven effective for treating a wide range of conditions, such as cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes. Gene therapy is used in various environments using different types of delivery methods. The environment can be in-vivo, in-vitro, or in-situ. Various delivery methods can be carried out, mainly classified into two groups, viral and non-viral vectors. When the viruses are used to carry the protein in the body, this type of drug delivery is termed as viral vectors. Non-viral vectors are a drug delivery method when naked DNA or physical processes transport the protein to the body.

In this study, we will be discussing a type of non-viral drug delivery known as electroporation. Electroporation is a method that uses a pulse of electric field to open the pores in the cell membrane to let the drug or protein inside the cell for delivery. The device would create an electric field resulting in corona discharge (ultimately forming a plasma), which would help open the cell membrane’s pores.

The device is divided into two parts, one that controls the input of high voltage on the required area, and the second controls the electric field through pulses on the surface. The device can take up to 10kV and has been tested under various circumstances.

This study includes the impact of various parameters on the electric field, and how by controlling it, we can perform the delivery successfully. Varying the distance, with varying voltages and then testing has been observed and tabulated. The experiment has been committed to prove its supposed practical implementation in a biological environment to carry out electric field mediated gene delivery.

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