Ionisation of dielectric spheroid membranes: a balloon model of electroporation of biological cells

Analysis of the physical, optical and electrical aspects of voltage impulse dielectric breakdown in rubber membrane spheroids shows a spatial organisation of material ionisation, resulting in hole formation. The morphology of this breakdown is much like the dielectric breakdown of a biological cell membrane under electrical impulse conditions, commonly called electropermeabilisation or electroporation. A study of these breakdown systems indicates a possible mechanism of biological electropermeabilisation based on material ionisation