Electrical properties of potato as a plant-based electroporation model at high (64 MHz) and low (1 kHz - 1 MHz) frequencies

Motivation: Plant-based models such as potatoes are employed for research on irreversible electroporation (IRE). Volumetric assessment of electroporation-mediated conductivity changes is desirable. MR-based electric properties tomography (EPT) provides volumetric conductivity assessment at the Larmor frequency. Goal(s): This study aimed to assess IRE-mediated conductivity changes in potato tissue by EPT at 64 MHz and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) between 1kHz and 1 MHz. Approach: Potato samples were electroporated with different pulse amplitudes and analyzed by EPT based on 3D FLAIR measurements and EIS. Results: EIS detected a clear conductivity rise in the low frequency range, while EPT did not detect significant conductivity changes. Impact: MR-based electric properties tomography offers volumetric conductivity measurement method at the Larmor frequency, but was not found capable of detecting significant conductivity changes in potato tissue at 64 MHz. This has implications for treatment response assessment in basic electroporation research.