Electroporation, less commonly referred to as electropermeabilization, is a physical transfection method that applies specific high-voltage electrical pulses to eukaryotic cells in a sample to increase the permeability of the cellular membrane. It is most commonly used in molecular biology research.

The technique is tremendously useful for allowing DNA, pDNA (plasmid DNA), RNA, mRNA (messenger RNA), RNPs (ribonucleoprotein), and proteins, as well as pharmaceuticals, and various chemicals to be introduced and integrated into the cell’s structure. Additionally, electroporation is also an excellent technique when difficult-to-transfect cells—primary and stem cells—are the target.

The appliances that were created to perform this process are called electroporators, or electroporation systems.

An electroporation cuvette, designed with a unique chamber specifically for maximum quality and convenience during electroporation, is used as the container for the sample. The cuvette generally has electrodes placed on its sides, which facilitate the current’s interaction with the sample inside. After the current has finished, a small volume of a liquid medium is added to the sample.