Bacteria counting with impedance spectroscopy in a micro probe station

• A method to quantify the density of viable biological cells in suspensions is presented. The method is implemented by low-frequency impedance spectroscopy and based on the finding that immobilized ions are released to move freely in the surrounding suspension when viable Escherichia coli cells are killed by a heat shock. The presented results show that an amount of ions corresponding to ∼2 × 108 unit charges are released per viable bacterium killed. A micro probe station with coplanar Ti electrodes was electrically characterized and used as a measuring unit for the impedance spectroscopy recordings. This unit is compatible with common microfabrication techniques and should enable the presented method to be employed using a flow-cell device for viable bacteria counting in miniaturized on-line monitoring systems.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Annan materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Other Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Acoustic impedance

Cell immobilization

Electrodes

Ions

Spectroscopic analysis

Titanium

Bacteria counting

Coplanar Ti electrodes

Heat shock

Low-frequency impedance spectroscopy

Micro probe station

Bacteria

Functional materials

Engineering Science with specialization in Nanotechnology and Functional Materials

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)