Work

Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in Solanum tuberosum Measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High-voltage unipolar square wave pulsed electric fields (PEFs) can cause cell membrane rupture and cell death during a process termed irreversible electroporation (IRE). PEF effects are influenced by pulse parameters like number of pulses (NP), voltage (PV), width (PW), and interval (PI). This study systematically evaluates their effects on the conductivity and relative conductivity changes between untreated and PEF-treated regions of potato tissue across a frequency range of 1 Hz to 5 MHz by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), using a custom-made four-point EIS probe with RG58/U coaxial cables. Potatoes were chosen as a plant-based PEF model to reduce animal experiments and untreated tissue showed minimal conductivity variation across regions. Relative conductivity changes were maximal at 1000 Hz. At 1000 Hz, significant conductivity differences between untreated and PEF-treated regions were observed from PV = 200 V, NP = 10, PW = 10 µs, and PI = 50 ms onwards (most significant changes occurred for PV = 700 V; NP = 70; PW = 70 µs; PI = 250 ms and 500 ms). Our results may be beneficial for multiphysics modelling of IRE with specific electrical properties, conductivity mapping with optimal contrast—such as in electrical impedance tomography—and development of IRE procedures.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app15147922

Authors: Athul Thomas, Teresa Lemainque, Marco Baragona, Joachim-Georg Pfeffer, Andreas Ritter

Institutions: RWTH Aachen University, Philips (Netherlands)

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Inactivation Methods

Subfield: Biotechnology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funder: H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions