The dielectric properties of electroporated human breast cancer cells

The dielectric properties of biological cells and tissues are of interest for developing therapeutic medical applications, especially when they are exposed to electrical fields as in the case of electroporation, a technique where-in high intensity, short duration pulses are applied to enhance the uptake of normally impermeable molecules, such as hydrophilic chemo drugs. Electrical impedance spectroscopy is a powerful tool to study these as the impedance signatures of biological cells is characterized by the frequency-dependent changes (dielectric dispersion), due to their frequency dependent permittivity and conductivity (resistivity). This paper presents the impedance spectroscopy studies of electroporated human breast carcinoma cells using FDA approved chemo and hormone drugs. For this purpose, an Autolab high voltage potentiostat was used. A sine voltage of 25mV is applied and the data were collected for a range of frequencies. The dielectric response of breast cancer cells indicate that they have alpha and beta dispersions. The fractal index value and other results obtained in this research compare well with previous results. The results indicate both quantitatively and qualitatively the enhanced conduction of the electroporated cells corroborating the uptake of chemo drug molecules. This indicates that impedance spectroscopy could be used for characterizing cells and tissues for treatment using electrical pulses.