Towards detection of electric field distribution during in vivo electroporation by MREIT

Abstract

Electroporation is a process in which cell membrane permeability is temporary increased by application of an external high electric field. Distribution and intensity of electric field present most important conditions for successful electroporation. For that reason, a new method called magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) was proposed for determining electric field distribution. The method was already successfully applied for reconstruction of electric field distribution in agar phantoms. Before next step towards in vivo experiments is taken, there are still two issues needed to be evaluated: choosing the appropriate MREIT algorithm and finding a method for validation of reconstructed electric field distribution. After evaluation of existing MREIT algorithms we determined J-substitution method together with projected current density method as the most appropriate. The main feature of the projected current density method is in obtaining current density within observed slice by means of only one component of the magnetic flux density. The method was successfully utilized in obtaining current density distribution in numerical model of the tumor. We strongly believe this approach will contribute to overcome issues regarding application of MREIT during in vivo electroporation and will enable its realization in the near future. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.