Electric pulse shape impact on biological effects: A modeling study

Electric pulses (EPs) can permeabilize cell membranes and intracellular organelles through pore formation. Changing the pulse duration and the shape of the pulses can alter the biological effects. Here, simulation results based upon the coupling of the asymptotic Smoluchowski equation for pore formation and the Nernst-Planck equation for ion motion show that a single 10ns or 600 ns EP permeabilizes the cell membrane on the side of field exposure to facilitate electrophoresis of calcium ions into the cell. Following the EP, the pores partially reseal and calcium concentration initially declines before increasing again across the cell due to diffusion. Calcium concentrations increase to ∼5 mM due after approximately 1 ms. Preliminary simulations for other pulse durations and discussed and extensions for bipolar pulses and novel pulse shapes are discussed.