Nano knife ablation, also known as irreversible electroporation (IRE), is a type of cancer treatment that uses high-voltage electric pulses to create pores in the cell membrane of tumor cells, leading to cell death. This minimally invasive, image-guided procedure is performed by an interventional radiology physician and uses electricity to destroy cancer cells.
Nano knife ablation can be used to treat tumors that are difficult to remove by surgery or that are located near vital structures, such as the pancreas, liver, kidney, prostate, and lung. It has some advantages over other ablation techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation, because it does not use heat or cold, which can damage surrounding tissues or blood vessels. Nano knife ablation also preserves the extracellular matrix, which facilitates post-ablation tissue regeneration.