TY - JOUR
T1 - Cell Membrane Capacitance (Cm) Measured by Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS)
T2 - A Narrative Review of Its Clinical Relevance and Biomarker Potential
AU - Brantlov, Steven
AU - Ward, Leigh C.
AU - Isidor, Søren
AU - Hvas, Christian Lodberg
AU - Rud, Charlotte Lock
AU - Jødal, Lars
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/7
Y1 - 2025/7
N2 - Cell membrane capacitance (Cm) is a potential biomarker that reflects the structural and functional integrity of cell membranes. It is essential for physiological processes such as signal transduction, ion transport, and cellular homeostasis. In clinical practice, Cm can be determined using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), a non-invasive technique for analysing the intrinsic electrical properties of biological tissues across a range of frequencies. Cm may be relevant in various clinical fields, where high capacitance is associated with healthy and intact membranes, while low capacitance indicates cellular damage or disease. Despite its promise as a prognostic indicator, several knowledge gaps limit the broader clinical application of Cm. These include variability in measurement techniques (e.g., electrode placement, frequency selection), the lack of standardised measurement protocols, uncertainty on how Cm is related to pathology, and the relatively low amount of Cm research. By addressing these gaps, Cm may become a valuable tool for examining cellular health, early disease detection, and evaluating treatment efficacy in clinical practice. This review explores the fundamental principles of Cm measured with the BIS technique, its mathematical basis and relationship to the biophysical Cole model, and its potential clinical applications. It identifies current gaps in our knowledge and outlines future research directions to enhance the understanding and use of Cm. For example, Cm has shown promise in identifying membrane degradation in sepsis, predicting malnutrition in anorexia nervosa, and as a prognostic factor in cancer.
AB - Cell membrane capacitance (Cm) is a potential biomarker that reflects the structural and functional integrity of cell membranes. It is essential for physiological processes such as signal transduction, ion transport, and cellular homeostasis. In clinical practice, Cm can be determined using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), a non-invasive technique for analysing the intrinsic electrical properties of biological tissues across a range of frequencies. Cm may be relevant in various clinical fields, where high capacitance is associated with healthy and intact membranes, while low capacitance indicates cellular damage or disease. Despite its promise as a prognostic indicator, several knowledge gaps limit the broader clinical application of Cm. These include variability in measurement techniques (e.g., electrode placement, frequency selection), the lack of standardised measurement protocols, uncertainty on how Cm is related to pathology, and the relatively low amount of Cm research. By addressing these gaps, Cm may become a valuable tool for examining cellular health, early disease detection, and evaluating treatment efficacy in clinical practice. This review explores the fundamental principles of Cm measured with the BIS technique, its mathematical basis and relationship to the biophysical Cole model, and its potential clinical applications. It identifies current gaps in our knowledge and outlines future research directions to enhance the understanding and use of Cm. For example, Cm has shown promise in identifying membrane degradation in sepsis, predicting malnutrition in anorexia nervosa, and as a prognostic factor in cancer.
KW - bioimpedance
KW - bioimpedance spectroscopy
KW - biomarker
KW - cells
KW - electrical impedance
KW - membrane capacitance
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011501419
U2 - 10.3390/s25144362
DO - 10.3390/s25144362
M3 - Review
C2 - 40732489
AN - SCOPUS:105011501419
SN - 1424-8220
VL - 25
JO - Sensors
JF - Sensors
IS - 14
M1 - 4362
ER -