The effect of pulsed electric field on the intercellular structure of biological substances

Abstract

The article presents the effect of using pulsed electric field (PEF) to change the structure of selected biological substances. The process analysis was performed based on the micro, meso and macroscale effects. The effect of exposure of organic matter to the above-mentioned conditions is electroporation of the cell membrane, i.e. the formation or growth of native, already existing membrane pores. A biological cell behaves in a similar manner to a capacitor with a low dielectric constant. Therefore, when it is placed in the area under the influence of the electric field, the ions which are inside and outside the cell will begin to move in the direction of the applied electric field. Consequently, this leads to the accumulation of free, oppositely charged electric charges on both sides of the cell membrane. These charges can interact mutually and cause local pressure increases, which lead to changes in the thickness of the cell membrane and, consequently, to disruption of its continuity [1].