A biomechanical model of electroporation of a biological membrane

To describe the mechanism of the electroporation of a biological membrane, a biomechanical model of the critical potential difference ΔΨ₀ of electroporation has been developed, for a small membrane patch with an equivalent charge q, a mass m, a thickness L, on the positive or the negative side of a membrane and in a direct current pulse field. The model elucidates that: ΔΨ₀ is proportional to mL²/qτo² and exp(ΔE _d/RT), where τ₀ is the critical time width of the externally imposed electric pulse, R is the gas constant, T is the absolute temperature of an electroporation system, ΔE_d(>0) is a thermodynamic energy of molecules in the biological membrane and it has been defined as a net dragging energy between a patch and a membrane. By fitting two sets of experimental data (ΔΨ₀vs. T),-ΔE_d has been estimated in the range of noncovalent bonds (van der Weals, hydrogen and ionic interactions). This result is consistent with the current view of the cohesive forces in biological membranes. Using the model, a set of experimental data of ΔΨ₀ vs. τ₀ can be quantitatively fitted well also