# Simulation of electroporation threshold based on the evolution of transmembrane potential and pore density

## TL;DR

This paper simulates how different cell membranes respond to electric fields, determining the thresholds at which pores form in cell membranes, endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclei.

## Contribution

A novel finite element model of real cells with internal structures was used to calculate electroporation thresholds based on transmembrane potential and pore density.

## Key findings

- The transmembrane potentials of the cell membrane, endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and nuclear membrane reached electroporation thresholds at 1.2, 2.6, and 2.9 kV/cm.
- Pore density thresholds for electroporation were 1.7 × 10^14/m², 3.2 × 10^14/m², and 3.5 × 10^14/m² for the respective membranes.
- Under a single pulse with specific timing, pore density thresholds were reached at 1.7, 3.2, and 3.5 kV/cm.

## Abstract

To study the electric field threshold of electroporation of real cell membrane structures under the action of the pulsed electric field, in this article, a finite element model of the real cell containing endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus was constructed in real cell staining images by cluster segmentation and edge extraction techniques. The electroporation equation was introduced into the real cell model to calculate the threshold value of different membrane structures for electroporation under a pulsed electric field. The results showed that the transmembrane potentials of the cell membrane, endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and nuclear membrane reached the electroporation thresholds at 1.2, 2.6, and 2.9 kV/cm, while the pore density thresholds were 1.7 × 1014/m2, 3.2 × 1014/m2, and 3.5 × 1014/m2, respectively. Under a single pulse with a pulse width of 100 μs and rise and fall times of 10 μs, the pore density reaches the electroporation threshold at 1.7, 3.2 and 3.5 kV/cm, respectively.