DEP Measurement of the Dielectric Properties of Single CHO Cells Under Thermal Stress

We employed dielectrophoresis (DEP) to investigate changes in the membrane capacitance and cytoplasm conductivity of single Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells induced by thermal stress. CHO cells were exposed to temperatures ranging from 42 °C to 50°C for 15 minutes. The DEP response of heat-treated cells were measured at frequencies over the β -dispersion region using a microwave DEP cytometer. The results reveal that temperature induced stress is accompanied by decrease in the cell membrane capacitance, and decline in the ionic content of cytoplasm.