electroporation

noun elec·tro·po·ra·tion \ i-ˌlek-trə-pȯr-ˈā-shən \

|Updated on: 24 Jun 2018

Definition of electroporation

: the application of an electric current to a living surface (such as the skin or a cell membrane) in order to open pores or channels through which something (such as a drug or DNA) may pass

Recent Examples of electroporation from the Web

And don’t dismiss electroporation for ex vivo approaches: zap the cell, make a hole, in goes CRISPR.

— sharon begley, STAT, "Archived chat: last week in CRISPR — cancer, patents, and a dip in the market," 19 June 2018
The electrical pulse opens pores in cells that allow for direct genetic delivery—a process called electroporation.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Heal thyself: Skin-zapping chip aims to reprogram cells for tissue repair," 10 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'electroporation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of electroporation

electr- + ²pore + -ation

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1982

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

electroporation

noun elec·tro·po·ra·tion \ i-ˌlek-trə-pȯr-ˈā-shən \

medical Definition of electroporation

: the application of an electric current to a living surface (as the skin or the plasma membrane of a cell) in order to open pores or channels through which something (as a drug or DNA) may pass

—