Synergistic effects of local temperature enhancements on cellular responses in the context of high-intensity, ultrashort electric pulses

• DOI: 10.1007/s11517-011-0745-z
• Publication Date: 2011-02-21T17:18:04Z
• Authors: J. Song; R. P. Joshi; K. H. Schoenbach
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Electroporation; Hot Temperature; Time Factors; Cell Membrane; Humans; Models, Biological; Membrane Potentials

Results of self-consistent analyses of cells show the possibility of temperature increases at membranes in response to a single nanosecond, high-voltage pulse, at least over small sections of the membrane. Molecular Dynamics simulations indicate that such a temperature increase could facilitate poration, which is one example of a bio-process at the plasma membrane. Our study thus suggests that the use of repetitive high-intensity voltage pulses could open up possibilities for a host of synergistic bio-responses involving both thermal and electrically driven phenomena.