NANOHMICS INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF161-048

Description

ABSTRACT: In recent years, there has been increasing use of time-varying electric fields to manipulate the behavior of biological cells. The application of large electric fields (>105 V/cm) with nanosecond pulse widths has been observed to produce effects that include long-term polarization of the cells plasma membrane, electrodeformation, and increased uptake of nanoparticles, indicating promise for effective treatment of cancer. Researchers using nsPEF techniques increasingly need to accurately measure the specific temporal, spatial, and amplitude characteristics of the applied field.The dielectric response of the extracellular fluid, the cell geometry, and the physical dimensions of the electrodes all have an impact on the ultimate electric field strength experienced by the cell. To address this need, Nanohmics proposes to develop the Electric Field Measurement Array (EFMA), which will provide electric field measurements with sub-nanosecond temporal response and sub-m spatial resolution.The EFMA can be used directly as a horizontal platform for biological cell experiments, or as part of a standard electroporation cuvette. The EFMA can provide electric field strength and coarse direction with sufficient resolution in time and space to completely characterize the electric field exposure of a single cell from a single nsPEF event.; BENEFIT: EFMA technologys first application will be to provide measuring instrumentation to scientists and engineers who are involved in measuring the spatial and temporal characteristics of electric fields. With EFMA instrumentation, researchers will be able to make better measurements of the physical electric field phenomena that influence the behavior and response of biological cells.