A Microdosimetry Analysis of Reversible Electroporation In Scattered, Overlapping, And Cancerous Cervical Cells

Abstract In this paper,a numerical method for studying reversible electroporation on normal and cancerous cervical cells is introduced. This microdosimetry analysis has been done by a unique approach for extracting contours of free and overlapping cervical cells in the cluster from the External Depth field images19. The algorithm used for extracting the contours is a joint optimization of multiple level set function along with the Gaussian mixture model and Maximally Stable Extremal Regions. This contour is then imported a multiphysics domain solver, where variable frequency pulsed electric field is applied. The Trans-Membrane Voltage (TMV) developed across the cell membrane is then calculated using the Maxwell equation coupled with a statistical approach employing the asymptotic Smoluchowski equation, which calculates the generated temporal pore density. The numerical model was validated by successful replication of existing experimental approach that employed low-frequency uni-polar pulses on the overlapping cells to obtain reversible electroporation. Using several overlapping clumps of cervical cells, simulations are performed to match the experimental data. For high-frequency calculation, a combination of normal and cancerous cells is introduced to the computational domain. The cells are assumed to be dispersive and the Debye dispersion equation is a second-order partial derivative equation used for further calculations. The difference in time duration for reaching the threshold value of electroporation is seen between the normal and cancerous cervical cells due to their size and conductivity change. The drug and dye uptake modulation during the high-frequency electric field electroporation is advocated by a mathematical model.