title: Quantitative assessment of dielectric parameters for membrane lipid bi-layers from RF permittivity measurements.
abstract: In this article, we propose and validate theoretical and experimental methods to quantitatively assess the Debye dielectric model of membrane lipid bi-layers. This consists of two steps: permittivity measurements of biological solutions (liposomes), and estimation of the model parameters by inverse application of the Effective Medium Theory. The measurements are conducted in the frequency domain between 100 MHz and 2 GHz using a modified coaxial connector, at the temperatures of 27 and 30 degrees C. Estimations have been performed using a three-layered model based on the Maxwell-Wagner formulation. Debye parameters (mean value +/- standard error) found from fitting experimental data are: epsilon(s) = 11.69 +/- 0.09, epsilon(infinity) = 4.00 +/- 0.07, f(relax) = 179.85 +/- 6.20 MHz and epsilon(s) = (1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(-7) S/m. This model can be used in microdosimetric studies aiming to precisely determine the E-field distribution in a biological target down to the single cell level. In this context the use of an accurate membrane dielectric model, valid through a wide frequency range, is particularly appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Italian Interuniversity Center Electromagnetic field and Biosystems (ICEmB) at La Sapienza, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome, Rome, Italy. liberti@die.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merla
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liberti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Apollonio
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Inzeo
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011846:Radio Waves; D011874:Radiometry; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes