Assessment of the electrical penetration of cell membranes using four-frequency impedance cytometry

Abstract

The electrical penetration of the cell membrane is vital for determining the cell interior via impedance cytometry. Herein, we propose a method for determining the conductivity of the cell membrane through the tilting levels of impedance pulses. When electrical penetration occurs, a high-frequency current freely passes through the cell membrane; thus, the intracellular distribution can directly act on the high-frequency impedance pulses. Numerical simulation shows that an uneven intracellular component distribution can affect the tilting levels of impedance pulses, and the tilting levels start increasing when the cell membrane is electrically penetrated. Experimental evidence shows that higher detection frequencies (>7 MHz) lead to a wider distribution of the tilting levels of impedance pulses when measuring cell populations with four-frequency impedance cytometry. This finding allows us to determine that a detection frequency of 7 MHz is able to pass through the membrane of Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) cells. Additionally, we provide a possible application of four-frequency impedance cytometry in the biomass monitoring of single E. gracilis cells. High-frequency impedance (≥7 MHz) can be applied to monitor these biomass changes, and low-frequency impedance (<7 MHz) can be applied to track the corresponding biovolume changes. Overall, this work demonstrates an easy determination method for the electrical penetration of the cell membrane, and the proposed platform is applicable for the multiparameter assessment of the cell state during cultivation.

Parallel Impedance Cytometry for Real-Time Screening of Bacterial Single Cells from Nano- to Microscale

“…The signal processing algorithm is introduced in detail in Figure S4 in the Supporting Information. In our previous work, − we have provided real-device pictures and the verification for the detection system.…”

Coronary Artery Disease and Inflammatory Activation Interfere with Peripheral Tissue Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Characteristics—Initial Report

“…High frequencies of electric stimuli describe the intracellular resistance and capacitance [31][32][33]. The response of peripheral transcriptomic cells to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is a well-recognized phenomenon [34].…”

Microfluidic impedance cytometry with flat-end cylindrical electrodes for accurate and fast analysis of marine microalgae

“…21,22,24 Among these continuous methods, microfluidic impedance cytometry has been recognized as a powerful and reliable tool in the detection of the electrical characteristic information of single cells, 25 having good potential for the accurate and rapid analysis of marine microalgal cells. 26,27 Significantly, the main elements of microfluidic impedance cytometry are available and inexpensive in the market, and many parts can be designed in an integrated circuit to reduce the volume of the detection system. [28][29][30] Therefore, microfluidic impedance cytometry is a promising tool in the effective analysis of marine microalgal cells in a portable, accurate and cost-effective manner.…”