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

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 stud...

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Main Authors: Athul Thomas, Teresa Lemainque, Marco Baragona, Joachim-Georg Pfeffer, Andreas Ritter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7922
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author Athul Thomas
Teresa Lemainque
Marco Baragona
Joachim-Georg Pfeffer
Andreas Ritter
author_facet Athul Thomas
Teresa Lemainque
Marco Baragona
Joachim-Georg Pfeffer
Andreas Ritter
author_sort Athul Thomas
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-e21a3e485f9c45b983b075f6522d15ad2025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514792210.3390/app15147922Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in <i>Solanum tuberosum</i> Measured by Electrochemical Impedance SpectroscopyAthul Thomas0Teresa Lemainque1Marco Baragona2Joachim-Georg Pfeffer3Andreas Ritter4Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, GermanyPhilips Research, 5656AE Eindhoven, The NetherlandsDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, GermanyHigh-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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7922irreversible electroporation (IRE)pulsed electric fields (PEFs)electrochemical impedance spectroscopyelectrical conductivityelectrical conductivity parameter study
spellingShingle Athul Thomas
Teresa Lemainque
Marco Baragona
Joachim-Georg Pfeffer
Andreas Ritter
Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in <i>Solanum tuberosum</i> Measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Applied Sciences
irreversible electroporation (IRE)
pulsed electric fields (PEFs)
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
electrical conductivity
electrical conductivity parameter study
title Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in <i>Solanum tuberosum</i> Measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
title_full Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in <i>Solanum tuberosum</i> Measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
title_fullStr Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in <i>Solanum tuberosum</i> Measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in <i>Solanum tuberosum</i> Measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
title_short Influence of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Electrical Conductivity in <i>Solanum tuberosum</i> Measured by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
title_sort influence of pulsed electric field parameters on electrical conductivity in i solanum tuberosum i measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
topic irreversible electroporation (IRE)
pulsed electric fields (PEFs)
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
electrical conductivity
electrical conductivity parameter study
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7922
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