Are the stainless steel electrodes inert?

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Electrochemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Electrodes are crucial for various electro-based biological applications like electroporation, electrofusion, and electrochemotherapy.
• Ensuring electrode inertness and preventing electrolysis product release is vital for experimental integrity and therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent to which stainless steel electrodes meet the inertness requirements for electro-based biological applications.
• To quantify the release of electrolysis products, specifically ferrous ions, from stainless steel electrodes under defined electrical pulse conditions.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing exponential electric pulses with specific amplitude (3 kV/cm) and time constant (0.5 ms).
• Experimentally determining the concentration of released ferrous ions.
• Analyzing the influence of pulse parameters and medium ionic strength on ion release.

Main Results:

• Stainless steel electrodes released ferrous ions into the medium at concentrations of several micromoles per liter under tested conditions.
• A clear dependence of ferrous ion release on electrical pulse parameters and ionic strength was established.
• The concentration of released ferrous ions was found to be significant and not negligible.

Conclusions:

• Stainless steel electrodes are not entirely inert and release ferrous ions during electro-based procedures.
• The release of ferrous ions can be influenced by electrical pulse characteristics and the surrounding medium.
• These released ferrous ions may have a notable impact, particularly on the effectiveness of bleomycin electrochemotherapy.