Dielectric properties of microvillous cells simulated by the three-dimensional finite-element method

Most of biological cells have microvilli on their surfaces, which significantly influence their dielectric properties. The complex permittivity of a cubical system containing a spherical cell model with cylindrical projections was calculated over a frequency range of 10 kHz to 100 MHz using the three-dimensional finite-element method. The spectra of the complex permittivity consisted of low- and high-frequency relaxation processes which were respectively attributed to the polarization of the membranes covering the projections and the spherical body. Conventional analysis based on the spherical shell model was applied to the simulated spectra to discuss the effects of cell surface morphology on the electric parameters estimated for the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm.

Research Highlights
► Dielectric relaxation of microvillous cells is simulated by 3D-FEM.
► Cells are modeled as a sphere with cylindrical projections.
► Surface morphology of cells seriously influences dielectric properties of cells.