Self-consistent evaluations of both the transmembrane potential (TMP) and possible electroporation density across membrane of spheroidal cells in response to ultrashort, high-intensity pulses are reported and discussed. Most treatments in the literature have been based on spherical cells, and this represents a step towards more realistic analyses. The present study couples the Laplace equation with Smoluchowski theory of pore formation, to yield dynamic membrane conductivities that influence the TMP. It is shown that the TMP induced by pulsed external voltages can be substantial higher in oblate spheroids as compared to spherical or prolate spheroidal cells. Flattening of the surface area in oblate spheroids leads to both higher electric fields seen by the membrane, and allows a great fraction of the surface area to be porated. This suggests that biomedical applications such as drug delivery and electrochemotherapy could work best for flatter-shaped cells, and secondary field-enabled orienting would be beneficial. Results for arbitrary field orientations and different cell sizes have also been presented.

• Received 12 August 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.011901