Influence of Extracellular Environment on Electroporation Efficiency

In this work, the effects of extracellular environment, in terms of both electroporation (EP) medium and extracellular matrix (ECM), on EP efficiency were evaluated in a 3D in vitro model composed of HCC1954 cells cultured on hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels enriched with self-assembling peptides carrying IKVAV motifs. The results from 3D cultures were compared to those derived from cell in suspension and adherent cultures. EP was carried out by using either RPMI (high conductivity medium) and electroporation buffer (low conductivity medium) and applying 8 rectangular voltage pulses at 700 V (electric field strength 1000 V/cm with plate electrode with 7 mm gap). Collectively, our data highlighted that cell organization and the presence of ECM modulate local electrical properties, thus affecting EP efficiency.