Merging of electronics
with biology, defined as bioelectronics,
at the nanoscale holds considerable promise for sensing and modulating
cellular behavior. Advancing our understanding of nanobioelectronics
will facilitate development and enable applications in biosensing,
tissue engineering, and bioelectronic medicine. However, studies investigating
the electrical effects when merging wireless conductive nanoelectrodes
with biology are lacking. Consequently, a tool is required to develop
a greater understanding of merging conductive nanoparticles with cells.
Herein, this challenge is addressed by developing an impedimetric
method to evaluate bipolar electrode (BPE) systems that could report
on electrical input. A theoretical framework is provided, using impedance
to determine if conductive nanoparticles can be polarized and used
to drive current. It is then demonstrated that 125 nm of gold nanoparticle
(AuNP) bipolar electrodes (BPEs) could be sensed in the presence of
cells when incorporated intracellularly at 500 μg/mL using water
and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as electrolytes. These results
highlight how nanoscale BPEs act within biological systems. This research
will impact the rational design of using BPE systems in cells for
both sensing and actuating applications.