Evaluation of DMSO effects on cell electrical parameters using dielectrophoresis

Mouse fibroblasts were exposed to buffers containing various concentrations of DMSO and dielectrophoretic spectra were acquired. Based on these spectra, electric parameters of the cell (cytosol conductivity, membrane conductivity and membrane permittivity) were computed. A decrease of all electrical parameters was observed with the increase of the DMSO concentration. Results were analyzed in terms of DMSO perturbation of the structured water layers adjacent to the membrane and of lipid packing.