Cell membrane permeabilization and cell survival after electroporation in acidic media in vitro

Electroporation is a method in which electric field of sufficient amplitude and duration applied to cells causes transient permeabilization of the cell membrane. Due to possibility, that microenvironment in applications of electroporation in vivo is acid, we studied effects of acid electroporation and recovery media. We observed no difference in the permeabilization threshold of cells which were electroporated and allowed to recover in growth (pH 7.8) or acid (pH 6.5) media. In contrast, statistically significant difference was observed in survival of cells that were exposed to pulse amplitudes greater than permeabilization threshold. At equal voltages applied survival of cells was greater if acid electroporation and recovery media were used compared to survival after electroporation and recovery in growth media. Our results imply that there is difference in membrane repair effectiveness depending on extracellular pH.