The effect of extracellular conductivity on electroporation-mediated molecular delivery

In this work, the effect of extra-cellular conductivity on electroporation-mediated molecular delivery efficiency is investigated. A numerical model combining the Smoluchowski equation for membrane permeabilization and the Nernst–Planck equations for ion transport is used to simulate the evolution of ion concentration spatially and temporally. The results are compared with and used to interpret trends observed from previous experimental measurements. Agreements are found which suggest the critical importance of electrophoretic transport. This mechanism controls delivery efficiency on the quantitative level. Meanwhile, a simple formula is developed to predict the molecular content delivered via electrophoresis. The formula can be used as a compact model which provides good approximation to the full numerical model while avoiding the computational cost.

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► The effects of electrical conductivity on electroporation-mediated molecular delivery are investigated.
► Conductivity affects delivery by inducing non-uniform electric fields.
► The model predicts an inverse correlation between delivery and extracellular conductivity.
► The model offers a mechanistic interpretation to previous experimental observations.
► A compact formula is developed to predict total molecular delivery.