Computer Simulation of Electroporation and Drug Transport Through Membranes

Abstract

In this study, experimental electroporation model with human aorta tissue is compared with computational modeling. The segments in native state of the aorta are treated by electroporation method through a series of electrical impulses from 50 to 2500 V/cm. The Pennes Bioheat equation is used to solve heat transfer problems. Different conductivity values are used in order to fit the experimental results. It has been shown that there are a smaller number of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) nuclei at the tunica media, while the elastic fibers morphology is maintained 24 h after electroporation. Additionally we studied with computational model of plaque formation and progression the reduction of the plaque size with electroporation. The initial results have been shown plaque reduction for carotid artery case. Future studies are necessary for design of a new device for in vivo ablation with electroporation of plaque stenosis.