Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is an analysis method used the surfaces of various systems, batteries, photovoltaic systems, and some life science applications.
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It is based on introducing a perturbation in the system being studied by using a sine wave current or small amplitude potential. The instrument senses the resulting changes in the form of an impedance diagram that provides useful data.
EIS can be divided into steady-state methods and non-steady state methods. In steady-state EIS, a constant perturbation is imposed on the system. Potentiometry and voltammetry are steady-state methods. In non-steady-state EIS, the perturbation varies within the time that it is imposed on the system.
EIS applications
EIS-based biosensors are popular in biology applications such as food science, medicine, and environmental analysis, since the instrument can be miniaturized using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology.
Biomolecular reactions are then converted into impedance diagram data. EIS-based sensors for these applications usually have an electrochemical cell consisting of two electrodes filled with electrolyte solution.
The electrodes are fitted with target-specific receptors for biomolecules. The target biomolecule modifies the interfacial properties of the electrode, resulting in changes to impedance values. Examples of events that can be monitored using EIS are the formation of antigen-antibody complexes, DNA hybridization, and enzymatic reactions.
Faradaic and non-Faradaic sensors
There are two types of EIS-based biosensors: Faradaic (f-EIS) and non-Faradaic (nf-EIS) sensors. The difference between the two types is the use of a reduction/oxidation (redox) reagent.
The electrolyte solution for an nf-EIS-based sensor does not contain a redox reagent. Instead, it depends on a capacitance change at the interface between the electrode and electrolyte.
The f-EIS-based sensor uses charge transfer between the electrode and a redox reagent. The f-EIS sensor has a higher sensitivity than an nf-EIS sensor. However, it can be difficult to detect certain specific biomolecules using the f-EIS sensor due to interactions with the target molecule.
For example, the redox reagent contains metal ions like aluminum, iron, and zinc. These metal ions may promote the aggregation of amyloid beta, which is the main component of amyloid plaques found in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. This aggregation can interfere with the accurate detection of amyloid beta. Another biological application of EIS is described in a study of the electrical impedance properties of rat lung and other tissues.
The electrical impedance of a tissue is a function of its structure and can be used to differentiate normal and cancerous tissues. EIS can be used to characterize those cellular changes in a quantitative manner, and therefore represents a potential method for gathering prognostic information for a disease condition.
In biological systems like the human body, electrical conduction is caused by the movement of ions in an aqueous biological medium. The current in a tissue is related to ionic content and ionic mobility. The characteristics of the cell that affect impedance include the integrity of the plasma membrane, cell volume, and intra- and extracellular conductivities.
Researchers were able to study the electrical properties of rat lung and determine the part of impedance associated with resistive and capacitive pathways across the tissue. The results were useful in understanding the variation in the electroporation parameters of different tissues, and how to optimize them based on physiological, morphological, and pathological conditions.
Sources:
- Amyloid beta detection by Faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using interdigitated microelectrodes
- Introduction to EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) with EC-Lab/ED-Lab Express
- Electrical impedance spectroscopy study of biological tissues
Further Reading
- All Spectroscopy Content
- Spectroscopy – What is Spectroscopy?
- Spectroscopy Methods
- Spectroscopy Types
- Spectroscopy Applications
Last Updated: Feb 26, 2019
Written by
Dr. Catherine Shaffer
Catherine Shaffer is a freelance science and health writer from Michigan. She has written for a wide variety of trade and consumer publications on life sciences topics, particularly in the area of drug discovery and development. She holds a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry and began her career as a laboratory researcher before transitioning to science writing. She also writes and publishes fiction, and in her free time enjoys yoga, biking, and taking care of her pets.
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