Effect of pore size on the calculated pressure at biological cells pore wall
Ayman H El-Hag1, Zhong Zheng, Steven A Boggs
1Electrical Engineering Department, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirate. ahalhaj@engmail.uwaterloo.ca
Abstract:
A transient nonlinear finite-element program has been used to calculate the electric field distribution as a function of time for a spherical cell with a pore in a conducting medium during application of a subnanosecond rise time "step" wave, including the effects of dipolar saturation in the water-based cytoplasm and cell medium. The time-dependent pressure on the pore wall has been computed as a function of time as the system polarizes from the change of the energy in the electric field to the left (inside the pore) and to the right (inside the membrane) of the pore wall. The computations suggest that dipolar saturation, while significant, has little effect on the time-dependent electric field distribution but a substantial effect on the field-induced pore wall pressure. Also, the effect of pore size on both the computed electric field and field-induced pressure was studied. As the pore size increases, a collapse in both the electric field and field-induced pressure has been noticed. This suggests that as the pore size increases, the driving force for further opening the pore is not electrical.
Related Concept Videos
Osmosis and Osmotic Pressure of Solutions
Pore Size Distribution
Adequate...
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Cell Size
Osmotic Pressure
Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity
Breathing Mechanisms
Both intra-alveolar and intrapleural pressures rely on specific lung properties. The ability to breathe—allowing air to enter the lungs during...


