Electroporation consists of destabilizing the cell membrane using short, high-voltage pulses. Depending on the electrical parameters, it can either induce cell death with minimal thermal effects — referred to as irreversible electroporation — or transiently increase membrane permeability to molecules such as cytotoxic drugs or plasmids — referred to as reversible electroporation.
In tumor ablation, electroporation enables non-thermal destruction of cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissues. These unique advantages make it a powerful alternative to conventional thermal ablation techniques, particularly for tumors located near vital structures.
Despite these advantages, the underlying biophysical phenomena are not yet fully understood, and electroporation-based therapies remain complex. Therefore, mathematical modeling plays a key role in elucidating and optimizing these processes, supporting the development of these promising but technically demanding treatments.
In my talk, I will present recent results in the mathematical and numerical modeling of electroporation for percutaneous ablation of deep-seated tumors, and outline numerical perspectives to advance and optimize electroporation-based therapies through the development of digital twins of clinical procedures.