IONIZATION OF DIELECTRIC SPHEROID MEMBRANES - A BALLOON MODEL OF ELECTROPORATION OF BIOLOGICAL CELLS

Analysis of the physical, optical and electrical aspects of voltage im pulse dielectric breakdown in rubber membrane spheroids shows a spatia l organisation of material ionisation, resulting in hole formation. Th e morphology of this breakdown is much like the dielectric breakdown o f a biological cell membrane under electrical impulse conditions, comm only called electropermeabilisation or electroporation. A study of -th ese breakdown systems indicates a possible mechanism of biological ele ctro-permeabilisation based on material ionisation.