HeLa cells electrochemical effects

Li, X., Bard, A. J. Scanning electrochemical microscopy of HeLa cells—Effects of ferrocene methanol and silver ion. J Electroanal Chem 2009, 628, 35 2. 

Koley, D., Bard, A. J. Triton X-100 concentration effects on membrane permeability of a single HeLa cell by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010, 107, 16783-16787. 

In this report, we describe electrochemical effects on HeLa cells in the vicinity of a microelectrode. The feasibility of electrochemical manipulation of an individual cell is discussed. 

Electrochemical Effect on a HeLa Cell at Constant Potential... 

The electrochemical effect was evaluated by measuring the burst time of the cell. Electrochemical swelling and burst of the cells occurred in the potential range below 0.0 V. In contrast, no appreciable swelling or bursting of the cells was observed in the potential range above 0.0 V. It took 24 min until the cell burst at -0.1 V. At -0.8 V, HeLa cells burst after approximately 2 min. Thus, the elapsed time until cell burst depended markedly on the applied potential. Based on a platinum macroelectrode study, the pH at the interface of a platinum electrode, pH 5, became very alkaline (pH 10) at a potential below 0.0 V. 

Electrochemical effects on HeLa cells were observed in the vicinity of the microelectrode surface. At a distance of 80 pm from the microelectrode surface, the cell burst within 20 min when the potential was controlled at -0.8 V. The duration time of the cell-burst depended sharply on the distance from the microelectrode. At 20 [im from the electrode, the cell burst within 2 min. Swelling and burst of the cells at a distance of 80 pm in a physiological salt solution suggest that these phenomena are caused by an electrochemically induced effect such as pH change. 

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