# Ultrasound-Activated Piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) Nanoparticles for Electric Ablation of Cancer Cells

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $187,150

## Abstract

Project Summary:
 Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel tumor ablation method that uses ultrashort and strong electric
fields to induce permanent damage to cell membranes and subsequent cell death. It offers several unique
advantages including fewer side effects, less morbidity, and a faster recovery, but its clinical applications are
severely limited by the bulky and complex electrical system. Innovations that are more effective, more ubiquitous,
and in vivo applicable are urgently needed to revolutionize the IRE treatment, and eventually make this promising
strategy a practical tumor treatment regimen. In this project, we proposed to demonstrate the feasibility and
to investigate the efficacy of an ultrasound-activated cell-level IRE tumor treatment technology using a
well-engineered piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) (polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymer)
nanoparticle (NP) system.
 The proposed research is built on a hypothesis that the strong and highly localized electric field generated
by piezoelectric NPs can achieve IRE on adjacent cell membranes, and thereby leads to cancer cell ablation.
We envision that under the agitation of ultrasound waves, soft piezoelectric NPs will be strained and generate a
strong electric field around them. These NPs individually act as a very localized pulsed electric field (PEF)
generator. When the NPs move closer or attach to a cancer cell, the strong PEF will enable the IRE process
locally and induce cell death. In Specific Aim 1, We will synthesize piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) NPs with
controlled size from a few hundred nanometers to ~50 nm, tunable mechanical modulus, and optimized water
dispersibility. The cancer cells targeting capability and the NP size related cytotoxicity on normal cells in the
tumor microenvironment will be investigated. In Specific Aim 2, we will obtain quantitative understanding of
NP’s mechanical modulus in correlation to the internal porosity, and the NP’s piezoelectric properties in
correlation to the NP’s size, porosity and mechanical property. Eventually we will quantify the electric field
generated by NPs in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution under ultrasound waves as a function of
ultrasound frequency and intensity. In Specific Aim 3, we will test the main hypothesis of this proposal by in vitro
investigating the feasibility, and quantifying the effectiveness, selectivity, and impact range of cancer cell killing
using ultrasound-driven NP-IRE on a series of selected cancer and normal cells.
 This proposed project will deliver a new type of biocompatible piezoelectric soft nanomaterial with a new
prospective for treating cancers. Success of this project can open many new research and application
opportunities for in vivo IRE tumor treatment and beyond, where electromechanical coupling is essential.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9938590
- **Project number:** 5R21EB027857-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Weibo Cai
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $187,150
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9938590

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9938590, Ultrasound-Activated Piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) Nanoparticles for Electric Ablation of Cancer Cells (5R21EB027857-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9938590. Licensed CC0.

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