Electrical Signatures of Life: A Review of Cell Electrophysiology and Dielectric Analysis (2015–2026)

The electrical characteristics of biological cells offer a powerful, label-free modality for investigating cellular morphology and phenotype, monitoring drug effects, and enabling selective manipulation and sorting strategies. Fundamental properties-including permittivity, conductivity, membrane capacitance, polarizability, and surface charge-dictate cellular responses to external electric fields, providing deep insights into cellular structure, physiology, and population heterogeneity. This review examines the recent literature on cell electrophysiology and highlights how innovations in utilizing cellular electrical signatures drive a diverse range of critical applications. Emphasis is given to the latest advances in the analysis of prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems across medical, clinical, environmental, and industrial contexts. This work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant recent reports and novel platforms, where electrokinetic methodologies have been successfully applied to enable rapid cellular assessments, illustrating the potential for applying cellular electrical signatures across numerous scientific disciplines, including clinical diagnosis, drug development, personalized medicine, and industrial bioprocessing.