I will be conducting an in vivo test to define transdermal delivery via topical/skin electroporation. I will be applying a drug to the patients skin and using an in vivo electrode to carry the drug into the dermis. I need help however when it comes to the electrode. I want to make 'meander' electrodes, and I would like to know if aluminum is a good material to make electrodes from. Here is a schematic drawing of meander electrodes: http://www.nature.com/gt/journal/v11/n18/images/3302337f1.gif (picture A.)
I will be using the btx ecm 830 electroporator. If not aluminum, then what other metal besides gold or platinum could I use? I intend on buying a sheet of said metal and cutting it into the meander electrode shape, then mounting this onto a handle(in a nutshell!). So please, do list a metal that can be readily purchased in sheets. Thank you!
Unfortunately, you have excluded two of the best suited metals for making electrodes.
Aluminum is a cheap metal, which is readily available in convenient sheets of many sizes. But Al oxidizes fairly quickly, which may cause changes in the ability of its surface to conduct current repeatedly as it is used. You may have to removed oxidized layer before using to avoid this problem.
You could also consider making your electrodes with a metal of high electrical conductivity and then getting it gold plated, which should not be nearly as expensive as using sheets of gold.
Aluminum is highly conductive, easy to manufacture and inexpensive. The limits for electrodes are the surface oxidation (annodization) which will stop the current flow.
Might try silver or carbon if you can't use gold/platinum.
Stainless steel is also used for electroporation and you can quite easily find it in sheets.
Because during the electroporation one applies a fairly strong jolt of high voltage and aims to have a certain target amount of current pass through the cells/tissue, it is useful to use only those metals in electrodes that are capable of performing as required, which narrows the choices to high electrical conductivity (low resistance) so there is minimal heating. The second point to consider is the reactivity of metal and toxicity of products formed. With respect to the second consideration, copper may not be the best choice.
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