Electroporation Current Compensation for Rising Electrode Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electroporation processes face inefficiencies due to increasing resistance between electrodes, leading to a decrease in the effective electric field and transfection efficiency over time, as the resistance increases with the number of electrical pulses, causing electrode passivation and degradation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a control circuit to detect changes in resistance and induce current, actively compensating by increasing the current to maintain a defined electric field, using predictive compensation techniques such as 'all data' or 'moving window' linear projections to adjust voltage and current, ensuring consistent transfection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrical pulses are applied to induce current through electrodes for generating electric field, then transfection efficiency is improved, but resistance between electrodes increases causing current decrease and electric field degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit continuously monitors the induced current through the electrodes and compares it to a reference value. When current degradation is detected, the system automatically adjusts the voltage or pulse parameters to compensate, maintaining stable electroporation conditions throughout the batch process despite increasing electrode resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes electrical parameters (voltage amplitude, pulse duration, pulse interval) based on real-time current measurements. By adjusting these parameters in response to resistance changes, the system maintains the effective electric field strength required for consistent transfection efficiency across the entire cell batch
2Productivity
If multiple electrical pulses are applied to process entire cell batch, then productivity is improved, but electrode passivation and resistance increase cause process degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The electroporation system transitions from static fixed-parameter pulsing to dynamic parameter adjustment. The control circuit modifies voltage and pulse characteristics in real-time based on electrode condition, allowing the system to maintain effectiveness throughout the entire cell batch processing without requiring electrode replacement or recalibration
3Ease of operation
If fixed voltage pulses are used for electroporation, then device operation is simple, but current decreases over time due to resistance increase reducing transfection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit provides automatic feedback control by monitoring induced current and adjusting voltage accordingly. This eliminates the need for manual parameter adjustments while maintaining consistent transfection efficiency, combining operational simplicity with process reliability through automated current compensation
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
The active compensation maintains the effective electric field and transfection efficiency throughout the electroporation process, improving yields and maintaining the concentration of transfected cells by adjusting voltage and current based on real-time and predicted resistance changes.
Implementation Method 1
The control circuit is configured to control the DC power source to provide a plurality of electrical pulses at a voltage to the electrodes to induce a current through the electrodes
Implementation Method 2
induce a current through the electrodes for generating an electric field between the electrodes at a defined value
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for electroporating cells with a cargo includes electrodes defining a path for a fluid including the cells and the cargo to flow, a power source coupled across the electrodes, and a control circuit. In some examples, the control circuit is configured to detect a decrease in an induced current due to an increase in a resistance between the electrodes, and control the power source to increase the induced current to maintain an electric field between the electrodes. A future value of the resistance between the electrodes may be predicted based on previous values of the resistance. In other examples, the control circuit is configured to detect parameters of the fluid flowing between the electrodes, and control the power source to generate or stop generating electrical pulses in response to detecting the parameters. Other example apparatuses, and methods of electroporating cells with a cargo is also disclosed.