Abstract
This paper presents the monitoring of single cells subjected to electroporation using microwave dielectric spectroscopy. The experimental results showed first a clear distinction between two cell states: viable cells and affected ones by a chemical treatment (Saponin). It also pointed out a high correlation (R 2 > 0.94) with biological standard techniques in detecting the two types of electroporation: the reversible and irreversible ones. The developed microfluidic and microwave-based sensor exposes a decrease in the capacitive and conductive contrasts of the investigated single cells treated by irreversible electroporation indicating damages at the cellular level, while cells under reversible electroporation present a similar dielectric response to that of the nontreated cells. This result corresponds to results frequently employed in biological studies. More interestingly, a study of the kinetics of the cell's damage induction over time, by electroporation, has been experimentally done, which makes microwave dielectric spectroscopy an attractive technique for cell's electroporation researches.