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Electrical and Computer Engineering

Bioelectrics Publications

2002

Thermodynamics

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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Improved Energy Model For Membrane Electroporation In Biological Cells Subjected To Electrical Pulses, R. P. Joshi, Q. Hu, K. H. Schoenbach, H. P. Hjalmarson Jan 2002

Improved Energy Model For Membrane Electroporation In Biological Cells Subjected To Electrical Pulses, R. P. Joshi, Q. Hu, K. H. Schoenbach, H. P. Hjalmarson

Bioelectrics Publications

A self-consistent model analysis of electroporation in biological cells has been carried out based on an improved energy model. The simple energy model used in the literature is somewhat incorrect and unphysical for a variety of reasons. Our model for the pore formation energy E(r) includes a dependence on pore population and density. It also allows for variable surface tension, incorporates the effects of finite conductivity on the electrostatic correction term, and is dynamic in nature. Self-consistent calculations, based on a coupled scheme involving the Smoluchowski equation and the improved energy model, are presented. It is shown that E(r) becomes …


Mechanism For Membrane Electroporation Irreversibility Under High-Intensity, Ultrashort Electrical Pulse Conditions, R. P. Joshi, K. H. Schoenbach Jan 2002

Mechanism For Membrane Electroporation Irreversibility Under High-Intensity, Ultrashort Electrical Pulse Conditions, R. P. Joshi, K. H. Schoenbach

Bioelectrics Publications

An improved electroporation model is used to address membrane irreversibility under ultrashort electric pulse conditions. It is shown that membranes can survive a strong electric pulse and recover provided the pore distribution has a relatively large spread. If, however, the population consists predominantly of larger radii pores, then irreversibility can result. Physically, such a distribution could arise if pores at adjacent sites coalesce. The requirement of close proximity among the pore sites is more easily satisfied in smaller organelles than in outer cell membranes. Model predictions are in keeping with recent observations of cell damage to intracellular organelles (e.g., mitochondria), …