Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy for Monitoring Chemoresistance of Cancer Cells

Abstract

Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is an electrokinetic method that allows for the characterization of intrinsic dielectric properties of cells. EIS has emerged in the last decade as a promising method for the characterization of cancerous cells, providing information on inductance, capacitance, and impedance of cells. The individual cell behavior can be quantified using its characteristic phase angle, amplitude, and frequency measurements obtained by fitting the input frequency-dependent cellular response to a resistor–capacitor circuit model. These electrical properties will provide important information about unique biomarkers related to the behavior of these cancerous cells, especially monitoring their chemoresistivity and sensitivity to chemotherapeutics. There are currently few methods to assess drug resistant cancer cells, and therefore it is difficult to identify and eliminate drug-resistant cancer cells found in static and metastatic tumors. Establishing techniques for the real-time monitoring of changes in cancer cell phenotypes is, therefore, important for understanding cancer cell dynamics and their plastic properties. EIS can be used to monitor these changes. In this review, we will cover the theory behind EIS, other impedance techniques, and how EIS can be used to monitor cell behavior and phenotype changes within cancerous cells.

Dielectrophoretic and Electrical Impedance Differentiation of Cancerous Cells Based on Biophysical Phenotype

“…Consequently, the phenotypic heterogeneity within tumors constitutes a major impediment in their diagnostics and therapy. From this point of view, EIS has the ability to monitor the dynamics of intrinsic and extrinsic changes that occur in cancer cells [17].…”

Adjunctive Diagnostic Methods for Skin Cancer Detection: A Review of Electrical Impedance‐Based Techniques

“…Information regarding the viability and growth of cell is obtained using impedance sensor arrays which are related to attachment, number, and morphology of cells on the surface of electrodes [Hu et al, 2016; Xu et al, 2016]. In addition to cellular behavior and dynamics, cellular impedance analysis can also provide information regarding the biomarkers, sensitivity, and chemo resistivity to therapeutics [Crowell et al, 2020]. Yang et al [2011] noted impedance‐based cellular characteristics at the frequencies of 10, 25, and 50 kHz for oral cancer cells and normal epithelial cells to monitor adhesion, spreading, and proliferation.…”

Recent Advances in Electrical Impedance Sensing Technology for Single-Cell Analysis

“…Cell migration, which serves as the initiation of cancer metastasis, could be recorded by ECIS technology [ 157 ]. Primiceri et al demonstrated that cell migration could be monitored and automatically analyzed by a EIS biochip [ 152 ].…”