Electroporation consists of destabilizing the cell membrane using short, high-voltage pulses. Depending on the electrical parameters, it can either induce cell death with minimal thermal effects, referred to as irreversible electroporation, or transiently increase membrane permeability to molecules such as cytotoxic drugs or plasmids, referred to as reversible electroporation. In tumor ablation, electroporation enables the non-thermal destruction of cancer cells while preserving the surrounding healthy tissues. These unique advantages make it a powerful alternative to conventional thermal ablation techniques, particularly for tumors located near vital structures. Despite these advantages, the underlying biophysical phenomena are not yet fully understood, and electroporation-based therapies remain complex. Mathematical modeling therefore plays a key role in elucidating and optimizing these processes, supporting the development of these promising but technically demanding treatments.
In my talk, I will present recent results in the mathematical and numerical modeling of electroporation at the cell scale, and I will also discuss recent results on the impact of ionic solute properties on the electrostatic potential. These results have been partly obtained in collaboration with A. Collin (Prof. at Nantes Univ.), and O. Lafitte (Prof. at Univ. Sorbonne Paris Nord).
References
[1] O. Kavian, M. Leguèbe, C. Poignard, and L. Weynans. “Classical” Electropermeabilization Modeling at the Cell Scale. Journal of Mathematical Biology 68.1-2 (2014).
[2] M. Leguèbe, A. Silve, L. M. Mir, and C. Poignard. Conducting and permeable states of cell membrane submitted to high voltage pulses: Mathematical and numerical studies validated by the experiments. Journal of Theoretical Biology 360 (2014).
[3] P. Jaramillo-Aguayo, A. Collin, and C. Poignard. Phase-field model of bilipid membrane electroporation. Journal of Mathematical Biology 87.18 (2023).
[4] O. Lafitte, C. Poignard. Explicit ion distribution in a closed non-electroneutral electrolyte between isopotential surfaces. Submitted, 2026.