Model Evaluation of High-Intensity, Ultra-Short Electric Pulses Induced Cell Membrane Electroporation

High-intensive, ultra-short electric pulses induced electroporation has been a recent development in bioelectrics. Application of an electric field can cause poration at cell membranes. This includes the outer plasma membrane, as well as the membranes of intracellular organelles. A dynamic pore model is achieved by including a dynamic aspect and a dependence on the pore population density into pore formation energy equation based on the Smolchowski equation. The electropores allows molecules, ions, and water to pass from one side of the membrane to the other. After the external electrical pulse is ceased, the pores close automatically in minutes or may never close leading to irreversibility and potential cell death. These effects are critically dependent on the duration and magnitude of the applied pulse. The reversible process of electroporation can be used to inject large molecules, such as DNA, or some suitable drugs, which would otherwise not go into the cell due to the selectivity of the membrane and the small size of the embedded ionic channels. While reversible and temporary changes are often desired, irreversible effects or apoptotic cell killing can also be important objectives in certain other situations. The irreversible process can be used to shrink and even completely destroy cells such as melanoma tumor cells.