Electroporation of Biological Cells Embedded in a Polycarbonate Filter

Abstract

The electropermeabilization of biological cell membranes by the application of an external field occurs whenever an applied field exceeds a threshold value. For fields above this threshold value but less than another critical value, the pores formed in the membrane are transient or reversible. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of these transient pores. Here we examine the local electric fields generated for the configuration of cells embedded in a polycarbonate filter, both in the region in and around the pore. We consider the shear forces created in the membrane due to the gradient of the field along the surface of the membrane, and the interaction of the charged molecules in the membrane with this field. A relationship between the electric field strength and the size of the pore formed is derived.