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We consider the homogenization of a parabolic problem in a perforated domain with Robin–Neumann boundary conditions oscillating in time. Such oscillations must compensate the blow up of the boundary measure of the holes. We use the technique of time-periodic unfolding in order to obtain a macroscopic parabolic problem containing an extra linear term due to the absorption determined by the Robin condition

The study of selection and gating in potassium channels is a very important issue in modern biology. Indeed such structures are known in essentially all types of cells in all organisms where they play many important functional roles. The mechanism of gating and selection of ionic species is not clearly understood. In this paper we study a model in which gating is obtained via an affinityswitching selectivity filter. We discuss the dependence of selectivity and efficiency on the cytosolic ionic concentration and on the typical pore open state duration. We demonstrate that a simple modification of the way in which the selectivity filter is modeled yields larger channel efficiency.

We study a parabolic problem set in a domain divided by a perforated interface. The pores alternate between an open and a closed state, periodically in time. We consider the asymptotics of the solution for vanishingly small size of the pores and time period. The interface condition prevailing in the limit is a linear relation between the flux (on either side) and the jump of the limiting solution across the interface. More exactly this behaviour only takes place when the relative sizes of the relevant geometrical and temporal parameters are connected by suitable relations.With respect to the stationary version of this problem, which is known in the literature, we demonstrate the appearance of a new admissible asymptotic standard. More in general, we describe the precise interplay between the geometrical and temporal parameters leading to the quoted interface condition.This work represents a preliminary mathematical investigation of a model of selective transport of chemical species through biological membranes.