Electrical and acoustic properties of biological materials and biomedical applications

A survey of our research on the linear electrical and acoustic properties of biological materials including cells, tissues, and biopolymers is presented. Topics include: 1) dielectric properties of tissues and cells from dc to 20 GHz; 2) identification of the mechanism responsible for major dielectric relaxation effects observed (counter ion relaxation, Maxwell?Wagner charging of membrane interfaces, relaxation of protein bound water, and relaxation of tissue water); 3) ultrasonic properties of biopolymers and tissues (identification of macromolecular absorption as the dominant contributor to acoustic absorption); and 4) interaction of EM fields with biosystems. This, in turn, includes applications in physical medicine, investigations of field-induced force effects on cells and their response, macroscopic and microscopic dosimetry, development of safety standards, and applications of available biophysical insight to evaluate field interaction with cells, membranes, and macromolecules.