Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments — International Scientific Workshop & Postgraduate Course
The meeting
Cell membrane electroporation, its mechanisms and applications in biology, medicine and biotechnology. The basis of the phenomena, current applications and future prospects were the main topics of this international meeting.
The postgraduate course was intended both for novices and experts in electroporation, including PhD students, researchers and users. Abstract submission was strongly encouraged and was necessary if credits (5 ECTS) were sought; each participant submitting an abstract also gave a short oral presentation. The course was accredited by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia, so active and passive participants received 20 CME credits.
Organised by the University of Ljubljana and the Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana. Organising committee chair: Peter Kramar. Members: Maša Kandušer, Matej Kranjc, Selma Čorović, Saša Haberl, Duša Hodžić, Bor Kos, Alenka Maček Lebar, Nataša Pavšelj, Gorazd Pucihar, Marko Ušaj, Jaka Čemažar. · Read all about the EBTT workshop in a feature published by MediaResearch Ltd. (International Innovation).
Course content
Resting & induced transmembrane voltage; dielectric properties; temperature & conductivity changes.
Electrochemical membrane thermodynamics; molecular dynamics simulations.
Electroporation of cells in vitro and in vivo.
Devices & electrodes for in vitro/in vivo; tissue models and their validation.
Mechanisms, preclinical & clinical use, developments & perspectives.
Gene transfection in vitro/in vivo; clinical use in human medicine.
Gene delivery in the skin; DNA vaccines.
MD simulations of lipid bilayer EP (M. Tarek); non-thermal irreversible electroporation for tissue ablation (R. Davalos); gene delivery in the lung (D. A. Dean); safety & toxicity of EP (J. Gehl); electroporation in food processing (S. Töpfl).
Faculty
Hands-on
Wet-lab, computer-modelling and e-learning sessions. Participants could select up to three practical-work sessions. Exercise sheets (PDF) as distributed to participants.
| S1 | Laboratory safety | PDF ↓ |
| L1 | The influence of Mg2+ ions on gene electrotransfer efficiency | PDF ↓ |
| L2 | Monitoring cell membrane electroporation with ratiometric fluorescent dye Fura-2AM | PDF ↓ |
| L3 | Electropermeabilization detection with propidium iodide in plated cells | PDF ↓ |
| L4 | Measurements of the induced transmembrane voltage with fluorescent dye di-8-ANEPPS | PDF ↓ |
| L5 | Irreversible electroporation of bacterial cells | PDF ↓ |
| L6 | Electroporation of planar lipid bilayers | PDF ↓ |
| L7 | Cell electrofusion | PDF ↓ |
| L8 | Analysis of electric field orientations on gene electrotransfer — efficiency & visualization at the membrane level | PDF ↓ |
| L9 | Skin electroporation | PDF ↓ |
| L10 | PEF-induced cryoprotection of spinach leaves | PDF ↓ |
| C1 | Electrochemotherapy treatment planning: optimization of voltage & electrode position | PDF ↓ |
| C2 | Numerical modelling of coupled physical phenomena | PDF ↓ |
| C3 | Molecular dynamics simulations of membrane electroporation | PDF ↓ |
| E1 | Electroporation of cells and tissues — interactive e-learning | PDF ↓ |
Abstracts & publication
Participants were encouraged to submit a manuscript based on their abstract for a special issue of the Journal of Membrane Biology devoted to electroporation-based technologies and treatments, guest-edited by P. T. Vernier, L. M. Mir and D. Miklavčič.
Electronic proceedings — all abstracts and course material.
Download proceedings (PDF)Photo gallery
Getting here & staying
Held at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. Faculty floorplan (PDF) · Map of Ljubljana centre
City centre, by Kongresni trg
Near Kongresni trg
Dom podiplomcev — Gostišče Jamnik, Cesta na Vrhovce 4
Support
Travel grants were offered by the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA). Supported also within the COST framework.
Contacts