Dielectric characterization of bacterial cells using dielectrophoresis

• Published in: Bioelectromagnetics Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 393 - 401
• Main Authors: Sanchis, A., Brown, A. P., Sancho, M., Martínez, G., Sebastián, J. L., Muñoz, S., Miranda, J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-07-2007
• Subjects: dielectric properties; dielectrophoresis; Electric Conductivity; Electrophoresis - methods; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli - physiology; Microelectrodes; Models, Biological; polarizability; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Staphylococcus aureus - physiology
• ISSN: 0197-8462; 1521-186X
• DOI: 10.1002/bem.20317

Measurements of dielectrophoretic collection spectra of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus suspensions are used for obtaining dielectric characteristics of both types of bacteria. The experiments are interpreted using a numerical method that models the cells as compartmented spherical or rod‐like particles. We show the usefulness of this simple method to extract significant information about the electrical properties of Gram‐negative and ‐positive bacteria. Bioelectromagnetics 28:393–401, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.