Alternating Electric Fields for Reversible Cancer Cell Permeabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, face challenges in delivering therapeutic substances across the cell membrane of cancer cells, particularly glioblastoma cells, due to inherent resistance and membrane impermeability.

Innovation Solution

Applying alternating electric fields at specific frequencies and strengths to temporarily increase the permeability of cancer cell membranes, allowing substances to cross and penetrate the cells, including the use of a dual-frequency apparatus for controlled delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemotherapy and radiation are used to treat cancer, then therapeutic substances are delivered to target cells, but the cell membrane of cancer cells (particularly glioblastoma) resists and blocks the delivery due to inherent impermeability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficacyVSAvoidmembrane resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies alternating electric fields at specific frequencies (100-500 kHz) to temporarily change the physical state of the cell membrane, increasing its permeability from an impermeable state to a permeable state, thereby enabling therapeutic substance delivery that would otherwise be blocked by the membrane

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If alternating electric fields are applied to increase cell membrane permeability, then substances can cross the membrane more effectively, but the complexity of the treatment protocol increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstance deliveryVSAvoidtreatment protocol

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic alternating electric fields at specific frequencies (100-500 kHz) to temporarily and reversibly increase membrane permeability during defined time windows, allowing substance delivery without permanent membrane damage or overly complex treatment protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the delivery of large molecules across cancer cell membranes, increasing the efficacy of treatments by enhancing the accessibility of compounds like Withaferin A and improving tumor margin delineation during surgery.

Implementation Method 1

applying an alternating electric field to the cell for a period of time, wherein application of the alternating electric field increases permeability of the cell membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical energy transformation:

Data Source

PatentUS20260061191A1Using Alternating Electric Fields to Increase Cell Membrane Permeability

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 NOVOCURE GMBH

AI summary

Certain substances (e.g., large molecules) that ordinarily cannot traverse the cell membrane of cells can be introduced into cells by applying an alternating electric field to the cell for a period of time, wherein the frequency of the alternating electric field is selected so that application of the alternating electric field increases permeability of the cell membrane. Once the permeability of the cell membrane has been increased, the substance is able to cross the cell membrane. This approach is particularly useful in the context of cancer cells (e.g., glioblastoma).