Broadband dielectric spectroscopy on human blood

BackgroundDielectric spectra of human blood reveal a rich variety of dynamic processes. Achieving a better characterization and understanding of these processes not only is of academic interest but also of high relevance for medical applications as, e.g., the determination of absorption rates of electromagnetic radiation by the human body.MethodsThe dielectric properties of human blood are studied using broadband dielectric spectroscopy, systematically investigating the dependence on temperature and hematocrit value. By covering a frequency range from 1 Hz to 40 GHz, information on all the typical dispersion regions of biological matter is obtained.Results and conclusionsWe find no evidence for a low-frequency relaxation (“α-relaxation”) caused, e.g., by counterion diffusion effects as reported for some types of biological matter. The analysis of a strong Maxwell–Wagner relaxation arising from the polarization of the cell membranes in the 1–100 MHz region (“β-relaxation”) allows for the test of model predictions and the determination of various intrinsic cell properties. In the microwave region beyond 1 GHz, the reorientational motion of water molecules in the blood plasma leads to another relaxation feature (“γ-relaxation”). Between β- and γ-relaxations, significant dispersion is observed, which, however, can be explained by a superposition of these relaxation processes and is not due to an additional “δ-relaxation” often found in biological matter.General significanceOur measurements provide dielectric data on human blood of so far unsurpassed precision for a broad parameter range. All data are provided in electronic form to serve as basis for the calculation of the absorption rate of electromagnetic radiation and other medical purposes. Moreover, by investigating an exceptionally broad frequency range, valuable new information on the dynamic processes in blood is obtained.

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► Dielectric spectra of human blood in dependence of temperature and hematocrit value.
► Broad frequency range (1 Hz–40 GHz) enabling detection of several dynamic processes.
► Detection of beta-, gamma-, and delta-dispersion.
► Calculation of dielectric properties of blood cells.
► Basis for calculation of absorption rates of electromagnetic radiation is provided.