Estimation of biophysical properties of cell exposed to electric field

Abstract

Excitable media, such as cells, can be polarized and magnetized in the presence of an external electromagnetic field. In fact, distinct geometric deformation can be induced by the external electromagnetic field, and also the capacitance of the membrane of cell can be changed to pump the field energy. Furthermore, the distribution of ion concentration inside and outside the cell can also be greatly adjusted. Based on the theory of bio-electromagnetism, the distribution of field energy and intracellular and extracellular ion concentrations in a single shell cell can be estimated in the case with or without external electric field. Also, the dependence of shape of cell on the applied electronic field is calculated. From the viewpoint of physics, the involvement of external electric field will change the gradient distribution of field energy blocked by the membrane. And the intracellular and extracellular ion concentration show a certain difference in generating time-varying membrane potential in the presence of electric field. When a constant electric field is applied to the cell, distinct geometric deformation is induced, and the cell triggers a transition from prolate to spherical and then to oblate ellipsoid shape. It is found that the critical frequency in the applied electric field for triggering the distinct transition from prolate to oblate ellipsoid shape obtains smaller value when larger dielectric constant of the cell membrane and intracellular medium, and smaller conductivity for the intracellular medium are used. Furthermore, the effect of cell deformation is estimated by analyzing the capacitance per unit area, the density of field energy, and the change of ion concentration on one side of cell membrane. The intensity of external applied electric field is further increased to detect the change of ion concentration. And the biophysical effect in the cell is discussed. So the deformation effect of cells in electric field should be considered when regulating and preventing harm to normal neural activities occurs in a nervous system.