Developed Potential across the Bilayers under External Electric Field Causes Electroporation

Abstract

In molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the sequences of the events leading to electroporation are pore initiation, pore growth and bilayer rupture. This electroporation have been studied under the external electric field, 0.43 V/nm, for DPPC and POPC lipid bilayers. The external electric field modifies the dipole potential, which has been evaluated in every 1 ns; and is turn out to be much higher than the applied one. The dipole potential reaches 2.24 V within first ns of the field application and then achieves a value of 4 V within 6 ns in POPC bilayers. It is also observed that the pore initiation take places within 1 ns. In DPPC and POPC lipid bilayers, the pore initiation times are 0.58 and 0.71 ns respectively. Both the pore and the dipole potential continue to increase rapidly and finally they lead to disruption of the bilayers within 10 ns if the external field is maintained.