Electric field effects on cell suspensions according to potentiometric measurements

The impact of electric field on cells suspended in aqueous media is widely used in studying the cell periphery of membrane structures, as well as for inactivation of cell components of aqueous media. Studies on electroporation of cell membranes are highly actual. The article presents the results of measurements, showing that direct potentiometry using lipophilic indicator ions (tetraphenylphosphonium) can be used as a sensitive tool to study the energy state of cells. It is shown that the effect of microsecond electrical pulses of high intensity on aerobic cells B.subtilis changes potential profile of the cell periphery, i.e. primarily transmembrane and surface potentials of cells. From the physical point of view, the impact analysis is based on the mechanism of cell polarization as an induced drift of free ion charge, which corresponds to extremely large values - dielectric permittivity and absorbed energy. The values of the field intensity and exposure time ensuring inactivation of cells were determined.