In this paper we described a finite elements model of a realistic irregularly shaped biological cell that allows the calculation of time-dependent changes of the induced transmembrane voltage (ITV) and simulation of cell membrane electroporation. We showed that steady-state models are insufficient for accurate description of ITV, as well as determination of electroporated regions of the membrane, and time-dependent models should be used instead. The modeling approach presented in the paper also allows direct comparison of calculations and experiments.
In this study we combined the experimental and numerical approach to determine the minimal transmembrane voltage (ITVc) leading to a detectable electroporation. We found that ITVc was highly variable, particularly in irregularly shaped cells and this variability was too large to be an artifact due to numerical errors and experimental inaccuracies. This implies that for cells of the same type and exposed to the same number of pulses with the same duration, the value of ITVc can differ considerably from one cell to another.
COBISS.SI-ID: 6798164
The paper describes a method for local treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors with the combined application of electric pulses and chemoterapeutic agents – electrochemotherapy (ECT). The introduction section of the paper, which explains the mechanisms of ECT contains the results of measurements of the induced transmembrane voltage (ITV) and the results of monitoring electroporation for the case of a B16F1 tumor cell. We demonstrated that electroporation mediated transport occurs through the regions of the membrane, which had the highest ITV before electroporation occured.
COBISS.SI-ID: 545147
The influence of cell density on the induced transmembrane voltage (ITV) and electroporation was investigated in this paper. The experiments were performed on dense cell suspensions, which represent a simple model of tissue. We showed that with increasing cell density the ITV decreases, due to the mutual electric shielding of cells. Consequently, the efficiency of electroporation also decreases.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5776724
The transport of Propidium Iodide into electroporated CHO cells was monitored during and after the electric pulse. The transport became detectable as early as 60 µs after the start of the pulse, continued for seconds after the pulse, and was dependent on the pulse parameters. The analysis of the kinetics of the transport during and after the pulse revealed different transport mechanisms and ongoing membrane resealing. During the pulse the transport was mainly due to electrophoresis, while after the pulse the transport was diffusional.
COBISS.SI-ID: 6617428