Analyzing the effects of surface distribution of pores in cell electroporation for a cell membrane containing cholesterol

TL;DR

This study models how cholesterol in cell membranes influences pore formation during electroporation, revealing that cholesterol alters membrane tension and causes uneven pore distribution across the cell surface.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model that incorporates cholesterol presence and pore distribution variation, enhancing the understanding of electroporation dynamics in biological membranes.

Findings

Cholesterol increases membrane tension, facilitating pore formation.

Pore size and number vary significantly across different membrane regions.

Some membrane areas undergo rapid poration, others remain unaffected.

Abstract

This paper presents a model and numerical analysis (simulations) of transmembrane potential induced in biological cell membrane under the influence of externally applied electric field (i.e., electroporation). This model differs from the established models of electroporation in two distinct ways. Firstly, it incorporates the presence of cholesterol (~20% mole-fraction) in biological membrane. Secondly, it considers the distribution of pores as a function of the variation of transmembrane potential from one region of the cell to another. Formulation is based on the role of membrane tension and electrical forces in the formation of pores in a cell membrane, which is considered as an infinitesimally thin insulator. The model has been used to explore the process of creation and evolution of pores and to determine the number and size of pores as a function of applied electric field (magnitude and duration). Results show that the presence of cholesterol enhances poration by changing the membrane tension. Analyses indicate that the number of pores and average pore radii differ significantly from one part of the cell to the other. While some regions of the cell membrane undergo rapid and dense poration, others remain unaffected. The method can be a useful tool for a more realistic prediction of pore formation in cells subjected to electroporation.