Computational Study of Inclusion Burst via the Proton Sponge Hypothesis

Biological proteins embedded in either a biological or an engineered membrane will actively maintain electrochemical balance across that membrane through transport of fluid and charge. While membrane studies are often planar, in nature they typically take the form of inclusions (∼spherical). Study and ultimately manipulation of the protein transporter types and density, and interior/exterior states of these inclusions lend insight into burst mechanisms appropriate to a broad array of engineering and biological applications, such as intracellular burst release of a vaccine. To explore these phenomena the governing equations of each transporter, as well as the membrane state are established. The result is a model requiring the simultaneous solution of a stiff system of differential equations. Presented is the computational solution of this system of equations for a specific burst scenario — the hypothesis that a proton sponge may be employed to expedite intracellular burst release of a DNA vaccine is explored.