Nonlinear Impedance of Whole Cells Near an Electrode as a Probe of Mitochondrial Activity

Biosensors

Akilan Palanisami¹  George T. Mercier¹  Jie Fang² 

[1] Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA;

关键词: nonlinear dielectric spectroscopy;    bioimpedance;    mitochondria;    fermentation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/bios1020046

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

By simultaneously measuring the bulk media and electrode interface voltages of a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) suspension subjected to an AC voltage, a yeast-dependent nonlinear response was found only near the current injection electrodes. Computer simulation of yeast near a current injection electrode found an enhanced voltage drop across the yeast near the electrode due to slowed charging of the electrode interfacial capacitance. This voltage drop is sufficient to induce conformation change in membrane proteins. Disruption of the mitochondrial electron transport chain is found to significantly change the measured nonlinear current response, suggesting nonlinear impedance can be used as a non-invasive probe of cellular metabolic activity.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.