Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41469788›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2025

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields induce cell-size-dependent selective permeabilization of urothelial cancer cells.

Aleksander Kielbik, Emily Hellwich, Veronika Bahlinger, Pamela Sowa, Daniel Lambton, Markus Kühs, Maria Luisa Barcena, Olesya Vakhrusheva, Hendrik Proebsting, Simon Walz and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Aleksander KielbikDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. Aleksander.kielbik@med.uni-tuebingen.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6828-6138
Emily HellwichInstitute of Applied Physics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Veronika BahlingerInstitute of Pathology and Neuropathology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Pamela SowaDepartment of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Daniel LambtonInstitute of Applied Physics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Markus KühsDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Maria Luisa BarcenaDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Olesya VakhrushevaDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Hendrik ProebstingUniversity Hospital Tuebingen, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-4009-1051
Simon WalzDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
Tilman E SchäfferInstitute of Applied Physics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5643-8384
Falko FendInstitute of Pathology and Neuropathology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5496-293X
Vitalij NovickijInstitute of High Magnetic Fields, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Bastian AmendDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2039-8904
Igor TsaurDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) 40947457
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Plasma membrane integrity is vital for cell viability, yet its controlled disruption enables targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. Here, we examined membrane durability and repair capacity in normal and malignant urothelial cells using short, high-voltage nanosecond pulses. Pulses were applied to monolayer cultures, spheroids, and patient-derived organoids. Plasma membrane permeability was assessed via YO-PRO-1 dye uptake, and mechanical effects of permeabilization were analyzed using atomic force microscopy. Urothelial cancer cells exhibited nearly fourfold higher dye uptake than non-malignant cells, along with more pronounced osmotic swelling and loss of cellular stiffness. Membrane resealing in cancer cells was delayed and exhibited stronger dependence on extracellular Ca²⁺. The higher susceptibility of urothelial cells was correlated with their larger size, which enable them to reach the electroporation threshold at lower electric fields. These findings highlight key differences in membrane vulnerability and repair dynamics, providing foundation for the development of membrane-targeted therapies for urothelial cancer.

Indexed as

Cell Membrane PermeabilityCell SizeElectroporationUrinary Bladder NeoplasmsUrotheliumCell Line, TumorCell MembraneHumans

Identifiers

PMID41469788
PMCPMC12868620

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.