Monte Carlo Poration Model of Cell Membranes for Application to Plasma Gene Transfection

A Monte Carlo poration model is developed to simulate formation pores of few nanometer of width through cell multilayer membranes when impacted by air plasma species. Each species is assumed as a super-particle involving a large particle number. It is assumed a simple membrane model superposing four layers of phospholipids and proteins. Each layer is composed by super-sites subjected to plasma macro-processes (recombination, reflection, activation, opening). Electrons play a main role on super-site activations and openings but ions and radicals have also their own role on pore formation. Judicious choices probabilities data of macro-processes lead to sizes of pores compatible with gene transfection. Present model, validated by comparisons with measured rates of transfected and surviving cells, is a tool for understanding the mechanisms of gene transfection.