A Transient Impedance Approach to Nonfaradaic Electrochemical Kinetics at Living Cell Membranes

Abstract

This study describes a new high resolution impedance technique by which electrochemical kinetic parameters of physiological relevance for living cell surfaces can be obtained. Isolated cells are forced, via hydrostatic pressure, into the pores of an insulation filter membrane, minimizing extracellular current pathways. Cell surface relaxations are thereby observable in the transient response which is interpreted via electrochemical models involving dielectric charging and specific adsorption. Application to the human red blood cell has isolated a transient current pathway which appears to be related to the kinetics of membrane bound enzyme activity.