Electromagnetic effects on biological cells

The basic effects of an electric field on a cell can be described by considering the cell to be a conductive body (the cytoplasm) surrounded by a dielectric layer (the surface membrane). When an electric field is applied to this cell, the resulting current causes accumulation of electrical charges at the cell membrane and consequently a voltage across the membrane. If the membrane voltage exceeds a critical value, structural changes in the surface membrane occur with transmembrane pore formation, a process known as electroporation. If the membrane voltage is not excessive and the duration of the pulse is limited, membrane poration can be reversible and the cell survives, an effect that is used for gene delivery into cells. Electric fields required for electroporation are one to ten kV/cm.