Bioeffects of Static Magnetic Fields: Oxidative Stress, Genotoxic Effects, and Cancer Studies

Abstract

The interaction of static magnetic fields (SMFs) with living organisms is a rapidly growing field of investigation. The magnetic fields (MFs) effect observed with radical pair recombination is one of the well-known mechanisms by which MFs interact with biological systems. Exposure to SMF can increase the activity, concentration, and life time of paramagnetic free radicals, which might cause oxidative stress, genetic mutation, and/or apoptosis. Current evidence suggests that cell proliferation can be influenced by a treatment with both SMFs and anticancer drugs. It has been recently found that SMFs can enhance the anticancer effect of chemotherapeutic drugs; this may provide a new strategy for cancer therapy. This review focuses on our own data and other data from the literature of SMFs bioeffects. Three main areas of investigation have been covered: free radical generation and oxidative stress, apoptosis and genotoxicity, and cancer. After an introduction on SMF classification and medical applications, the basic phenomena to understand the bioeffects are described. The scientific literature is summarized, integrated, and critically analyzed with the help of authoritative reviews by recognized experts; international safety guidelines are also cited.

Biological Effects of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance on Human Blood Cells

“…The persistence of induced DNA damage is a key issue when assessing residual genotoxic risk. [23][24][25] It depends on the efficacy of DNA repair, which relates to the amount of DNA breaks. 26 This might explain the important interindividual variation in the time course of γ-H2AX decline after CMR.…”

Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion is affected by internalized paramagnetic nanoparticles in the presence of magnetic field

“…Equation [1] is used with the properties of the magnetic particles (1) and the simulation results from COMSOL Multiphysics for the external MF to calculate the forces acting on the magnetic particles. Figure 2 shows that the magnitude of the force at all locations on the plate, which, as expected, can be observed to be larger near the electromagnets where the MF and its gradient are larger.…”

Use of Annexin V based Sperm Selection in Assisted Reproduction

“…MACS use involves the passage of sperm through a high power static magnetic field (SMF) of 0.5 T and up to 1.5 T [82,83]. Several researches have shown that SMF can generate some kind of effect on biological systems, as pro-inflammatory changes and increase in the generation of ROS [84][85][86], which is highly detrimental to sperm. Although the mechanism by which SMF affects cells is not well understood, some reports speculate that it might increase the activity, concentration, and life time of paramagnetic free radicals, which could ultimately produce oxidative stress, genetic mutations, and/or apoptosis [87][88][89].…”

“…Thus, the concentration and/or lifetime of free radicals that escape from the radical pair would increase by exposure to SMF, and free radicals initiate membrane lipids, proteins and DNA damage, and may lead to apoptosis or necrosis [89,90]. The diversity of alterations reported for SMF exposure may be related to varied duration, intensity, tissue penetration, and the type of cells [86,91]. In reproductive tissues, SMF has been shown to modulate the activity of several enzymes related to oxidative stress in the testicles of exposed rats [92].…”