Analysis of membrane potential and ion concentration of axon cell

This paper provides a study of axon cell in terms of membrane potential and ion concentration using Nernst/Goldman Simulator and MATLAB. Conventional cancer detection only provides sufficient information about growth of cancer on human body, but there is little information about the growth of cancer in axon in terms of membrane potential and ion concentration. In a healthy cell the membrane potential preserves within range of -60 mV to -100 mV where negative sign of the membrane potential indicates that the inside surface of the cell membrane is relatively more negative than the immediate exterior surface. The ratio of ion concentration of major electrolytes, such as Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) ions (K
⁺
, Na
⁺
) remains constant inside and outside of the cell membrane. Ratio of Potassium (K
⁺
) ions outside to inside a healthy cell is 20 : 400 expressed by [K
_o
] : [Ki] = 20 : 400. The ratio of Sodium (Na
⁺
) ions outside to inside a healthy cell is 440 : 50 expressed by [Na
_o
] : [Na
_i
] = 440 : 50. But whenever these cells become cancerous, the value of membrane potential becomes around -15 mV because of water flowing into the cells and Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium being lost from the cell interior and the ratio of electrolytes are no longer sustained within desired values of healthy cell. This paper provides ascending iteration process using Nernst/Goldman Simulator and MATLAB to achieve the desired ion ratios at -15 mV membrane potential in cancerous cell.