title: Assessment of the electrochemical effects of pulsed electric fields in a biological cell suspension.
abstract: Electroporation of cells is successfully used in biology, biotechnology and medicine. Practical problems still arise in the electroporation of cells in suspension. For example, the determination of cell electroporation is still a demanding and time-consuming task. Electric pulses also cause contamination of the solution by the metal released from the electrodes and create local enhancements of the electric field, leading to the occurrence of electrochemical reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. In our study, we investigated the possibility of assessing modifications to the cell environment caused by pulsed electric fields using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We designed an experimental protocol to elucidate the mechanism by which a pulsed electric field affects the electrode state in relation to different electrolyte conductivities at the interface. The results show that a pulsed electric field affects electrodes and its degree depends on the electrolyte conductivity. Evolution of the electrochemical reaction rate depends on the initial free charges and those generated by the pulsed electric field. In the presence of biological cells, the initial free charges in the medium are reduced. The electrical current path at low frequency is longer, i.e., conductivity is decreased, even in the presence of increased permeability of the cell membrane created by the pulsed electric field.
authors: Département de Génie Électrique, Faculté de Technologie, Université de Bejaia, 06000 Bejaia, Algeria; APELEC Laboratory, Djillali Liabes University of Sidi Bel-Abbes, Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria.
authors: Djamel Eddine
authors: DE
authors: Chafai
authors: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Andraž
authors: A
authors: Mehle
authors: APELEC Laboratory, Djillali Liabes University of Sidi Bel-Abbes, Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria.
authors: Amar
authors: A
authors: Tilmatine
authors: Département de Génie Électrique, Faculté de Technologie, Université de Bejaia, 06000 Bejaia, Algeria.
authors: Bachir
authors: B
authors: Maouche
authors: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: damijan.miklavcic@fe.uni-lj.si.
authors: Damijan
authors: D
authors: Miklavčič
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002470:Cell Survival; D003412:Cricetulus; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D012996:Solutions; D013499:Surface Properties; D013535:Suspensions
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D012996:Solutions; D013535:Suspensions
keywords: Cell suspension; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrode–electrolyte interface; Electroporation; PEF treatment