Molecular dynamics simulation of water pore formation in lipid bilayer induced by shock waves

Water molecule penetration into a bilayer hydrophobic region with a shock wave impulse has been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations [Koshiyama et al., AIP Conference Proceedings, 754, 104-106, (2005)]. Here we report results of simulation of spontaneous water pore formation in a bilayer that contains water molecules in the hydrophobic region in an initial state. The bilayers of 128 DPPC lipid and 3655 water molecules with insertion of 392, 784, and 1176 water molecules in the hydrophobic region are simulated. A water pore is spontaneously formed when 1176 water molecules exist in the hydrophobic region. The water pore diameter is estimated to be c.a. 1.9 nm, which is three times larger than that of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) used in cancer treatment.