Tissue-specific bioimpedance changes induced by graphene oxide <i>ex vivo</i>: a step toward contrast media development

Svetlana Kashina; Andrea Monserrat del Rayo Cervantes-Guerrero; Francisco Miguel Vargas-Luna; Gonzalo Paez; Jose Marco Balleza-Ordaz; Svetlana Kashina; Andrea Monserrat del Rayo Cervantes-Guerrero; Francisco Miguel Vargas-Luna; Gonzalo Paez; Jose Marco Balleza-Ordaz

doi:10.3934/biophy.2025005

AIMS Biophysics

2025, Volume 12, Issue 1: 54-68. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2025005

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Research article

Tissue-specific bioimpedance changes induced by graphene oxide ex vivo: a step toward contrast media development

Svetlana Kashina ^{1
,
,},
Andrea Monserrat del Rayo Cervantes-Guerrero ¹,
Francisco Miguel Vargas-Luna ¹,
Gonzalo Paez ²,
Jose Marco Balleza-Ordaz ^{1
,
,}

1.
Division of Sciences and Engineering, University of Guanajuato. Loma del Bosque 103, Lomas del Campestre CP 37150. Leon, Guanajuato, México
2.
Center for Optics Research, Loma del Bosque 115, Colonia Lomas del Campestre León, Guanajuato, México. Código Postal 37150

Received: 22 January 2025 Revised: 25 February 2025 Accepted: 05 March 2025 Published: 11 March 2025

Electrical bioimpedance (BI) was proposed as an easy and cheap technique to monitor different physiological parameters. However, its clinical applications are minimal due to the low resolution and difficulties in discriminating between different tissue types. Nanoparticles have also been extensively investigated for their practical use. Graphene oxide (GO) has shown acceptable biocompatibility. The objective of this work was to assess the possibility of using GO to enhance bioimpedance measures in ex vivo models. GO was suspended in medical-grade solutions and injected into the tissues. BI was recorded at 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 kHz. Bode impedance plots evidenced statistically significant differences in tissue impedance before and after injections. Likewise, data adjustment to an equivalent electrical circuit showed that GO accumulates mainly in the extracellular space and, to some extent, at the cytoplasmatic membrane, and the accumulation is tissue specific. The latter suggests the possibility of using GO as a contrast agent to discriminate between different tissue types using BI.
- graphene oxide,
- bioimpedance,
- porcine organs,
- tissue electrical properties,
- contrast media
Citation: Svetlana Kashina, Andrea Monserrat del Rayo Cervantes-Guerrero, Francisco Miguel Vargas-Luna, Gonzalo Paez, Jose Marco Balleza-Ordaz. Tissue-specific bioimpedance changes induced by graphene oxide ex vivo: a step toward contrast media development[J]. AIMS Biophysics, 2025, 12(1): 54-68. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2025005

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Abstract

Electrical bioimpedance (BI) was proposed as an easy and cheap technique to monitor different physiological parameters. However, its clinical applications are minimal due to the low resolution and difficulties in discriminating between different tissue types. Nanoparticles have also been extensively investigated for their practical use. Graphene oxide (GO) has shown acceptable biocompatibility. The objective of this work was to assess the possibility of using GO to enhance bioimpedance measures in ex vivo models. GO was suspended in medical-grade solutions and injected into the tissues. BI was recorded at 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 kHz. Bode impedance plots evidenced statistically significant differences in tissue impedance before and after injections. Likewise, data adjustment to an equivalent electrical circuit showed that GO accumulates mainly in the extracellular space and, to some extent, at the cytoplasmatic membrane, and the accumulation is tissue specific. The latter suggests the possibility of using GO as a contrast agent to discriminate between different tissue types using BI.

Acknowledgments

Svetlana Kashina thanks SECIHTI Mexico for postdoctoral fellowship.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee (approval number: CEPIUG-A01-2022).

Author contributions

Svetlana Kashina: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Investigation, Writing–original draft; Andrea Monserrat del Rayo Cervantes-Guerrero: Data acquisition and curation, Formal analysis, Writing–review & editing; Francisco Miguel Vargas-Luna: Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Validation, Writing–review; Gonzalo Paez: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Writing–review & editing; Jose Marco Balleza-Ordaz: Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Validation, Writing–review & editing.

Data access statement

The data associated with this work will be made available upon reasonable request.

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