Abstract
A molecular dynamics simulator is used to analyze the electrically driven membrane effects in cells due to ultrashort pulses. Time dependence of nanopore formation at membranes in response to a high-intensity (∼ 100 kV/cm), nanosecond electric pulse is probed. The results show that the nanosized pores could typically be formed in ∼ 5-6 ns. Phosphatidylserine externalization is shown to occur as a pore-mediated event, rather than a translocation across an energy barrier. The predictions are in a very good agreement with the recent experimental data, including the preference for "anode-side" initiation. Finally, it is shown that the molecular system could potentially evolve from an initial multiple nanopore state to a system dominated by larger sized pores.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1405-1411 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 4 II |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2006 |
Keywords
- Cell response
- Electroporation
- Lipid membrane
- Molecular dynamics