The effect of extracellular conductivity on electroporation-mediated molecular delivery

Jianbo Li, Wenchang Tan, Miao Yu, Hao Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this work, the effect of extra-cellular conductivity on electroporation-mediated molecular delivery efficiency is investigated. A numerical model combining the Smoluchowski equation for membrane permeabilization and the Nernst-Planck equations for ion transport is used to simulate the evolution of ion concentration spatially and temporally. The results are compared with and used to interpret trends observed from previous experimental measurements. Agreements are found which suggest the critical importance of electrophoretic transport. This mechanism controls delivery efficiency on the quantitative level. Meanwhile, a simple formula is developed to predict the molecular content delivered via electrophoresis. The formula can be used as a compact model which provides good approximation to the full numerical model while avoiding the computational cost.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)461-470
Number of pages10
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
Volume1828
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

Keywords

  • Electrical conductivity
  • Electropermeabilization
  • Electrophoresis
  • Electroporation
  • Field amplified sample stacking
  • Molecular delivery

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