Ionic Conduction in Biological Nanopores Created by Ultrashort9 High-Intensity Pulses

Ultrashort, high-intensity electric pulses open nanopores in biological cell membranes. Ion transport in nanopore is analyzed using a numerical method that couples the Nernst-Planck equations for ionic concentrations, the Poisson equation for the electric potential, and Navier-Stokes equations for the fluid flow. Roles of the applied bias, pore size, as well as the surface charge lining the membrane are comprehensively examined through I-V characteristics, conductance variations of the pore. Our results show that the surface charge distribution has an impact on the ionic conduction due to mutual electrostatic force interference. In addition, a larger pore would conduct a larger ionic current thus being more conductive on the condition of the same bias applied, which would suggest a bias-dependent expansion of pores.