Panama: An Open-Source Educational App for Ion Channel Biophysics Simulation.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Computational Biology
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Existing software for simulating voltage-gated ion channels often lacks robustness, interactivity, or mobile compatibility.
• There is a need for accessible, user-friendly tools to educate students on ion channel biophysics.
• Current educational software may be overly complex or not suitable for diverse learning environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and introduce Panama, an open-source educational software for simulating voltage-gated ion channel biophysics.
• To provide an interactive, mobile-friendly, and pedagogically sound tool for learning ion channel function.
• To address the limitations of existing software in terms of usability and educational applicability.

Main Methods:

• Developed an open-source educational software named Panama using the R programming language.
• Implemented simulations for various voltage-gated ion channels including sodium, potassium, and calcium channels.
• Created both an installable R package and a publicly accessible web application for widespread use.

Main Results:

• Panama simulates the biophysics of multiple voltage-gated ion channels under current-clamp and voltage-clamp conditions.
• The software provides instantaneous, downloadable visualizations of simulation outputs directly in the web browser.
• Panama is designed with intuitive, touch-optimized controls, making it mobile-friendly and touchscreen-compatible.

Conclusions:

• Panama offers a novel, first-of-its-kind educational tool for exploring ion channel physiology.
• Its combination of interactive features, mobile accessibility, and pedagogical robustness makes it valuable for neuroscience education.
• The software serves as both a powerful R package for researchers and an accessible web app for students.