On Modeling Diversity in Electrical Cellular Response: Data-Driven Approach

Electrical properties of biological cells and tissues possess valuable information that enabled numerous applications in biomedical engineering. The common foundation behind them is a numerical model that can predict electrical response of a single cell or a network of cells. We analyzed the past empirical observations to propose the first statistical model that accurately mimics biological diversity among animal cells, yeast cells, and bacteria. Based on membrane elasticity and cell migration mechanisms, we introduce a more realistic three-dimensional geometry generation procedure that captures membrane protrusions and retractions in adherent cells. Together, they form a model of diverse electrical response across multiple cell types. We experimentally verified the model with electrical impedance spectroscopy of a single human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell on a microelectrode array. The work is of particular relevance to medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications that involve exposure to electric and magnetic fields.