Rupture, pore models

In contrast, pore models consider the pore-expanding forces that are parallel to the membrane and that arise from normal forces acting on pores as U is increased. Pore models can quantitatively account for both rupture and reversible electrical breakdown (REB) in planar membranes and reversible behavior in cells. For this reason, our discussion will emphasize localized electroconformational changes, particularly hydrophilic pores. The modeling of electroporation using such pores was first presented in an impressive series of seven back-to-back papers only the first paper is cited here (10). 

Boucher, P.A., Joos, B, Zuckemiann, M.J., and Fournier, L, (2007) Pore formation in a lipid bilayer under a tension ramp modeling the distribution of rupture tensions. Biophysical Journal, 92 (12), 4344-4355,... 

Consider again eqn. (7.25). The first term on the right-hand side is proportional to the hole surface area and is the interfacial tension contribution. The second term is proportional to the hole perimeter and is therefore the line tension contribution. (The third term is constant for constant film thickness b and can be incorporated into the pre-exponent.) The alternative way to model the film rupture is to present the free energy of the nucleation pore as the sum of the line and surface tension terms ... 

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