As with cancer progression, the physical and biochemical changes associated with cell development have also seen concommittant changes in cell electrophysiology. Using dielectrophoresis, we have shown that these changes can be observed days or weeks before differentiation can be detected by other methods.

 

For example, working with colleagues at the University of California Irvine, we showed that membrane capacitance is a robust marker for whether embryonic neural stem cells will differentiate into neurons or glia (PLoS ONE). Similar efects were seen in studies of skeletal stem cells, in work with Richard Ofeffo at Southampton (Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine).

 

We are now working with a collaborative team on differentiation in chondroblasts (in press), and with Jon Gibbins on megokaryocytes (the precursors to platelets).