Bioelectric Field Enhancement: The Influence on Membrane Potential and Cell Migration In Vitro

Abstract

Objective:The extracellular matrix consists of critical components that affect fibroblast polarization and migration. The existence of both intrinsic and extrinsic electrical signals that play essential roles in the development, physiology, regeneration, and pathology of cells was discovered over a century ago. In this study, we study how the Bioelectric Field Enhancement (BEFE) device and its generated electromagnetic field (EMF) by continuous direct current (DC) significantly affect the membrane potential and cell migration of fibroblasts in vitro. Approach: This is an experimental analysis of membrane potential and cell migration of murine fibroblasts when grown in treated media that has been reconstituted with an aqueous solution that has been exposed to an EMF, which is generated by this device versus fibroblasts grown in identically prepared control media that has not been exposed to the EMF. Results: The growth of fibroblasts in the treated media shows a strong percent change in polarization of the plasma membrane and significant increase in cell migration compared to control groups. Innovation: These experiments show the potential for an adjunct wound care therapy using a continuous DC EMF application through a medium of water. Conclusion: Growth media that was reconstituted with an aqueous solution that had been exposed to this DC derived EMF shows significant changes in cell polarity and cell migration of fibroblasts in vitro. The BEFE device has shown enhanced chronic wound healing in anecdotal reports from patients globally for decades when used as a footbath/bath and could lead to a novel EMF application in wound healing.Keywords: bioelectrodynamics, membrane potential, cell migration, chronic wounds INTRODUCTIONElectromagnetic fields (EMFs) activate multiple signaling pathways that are instrumental in cell polarization, migration, and wound healing. [1][2][3][4] EMFs work in conjunction with and also override other signaling cues of cell migration such as: chemoattractant gradients, injury stimulation, contact inhibition, wound void, mechanical forces, and population pressure. 1,[5][6][7] Injured and inflamed cells are contained in a wound, and transmembrane potential differences have been found to exist in both injured and proliferating cells. 8 differentiation, and these magnetic fields also affect the changing gradients of Vmem that are produced and sensed by both excitable and nonexcitable cells in living organisms. 6,8,10,11 Inadequate and unorganized cell migration is characteristic of chronic wounds and to heal, cells must migrate directionally and in an organized way for granulation tissues to begin to develop. 2 EMF therapies in both in vitro and in vivo wound care research have been explored for decades and are currently being conducted with vibrating probe techniques that apply a flow of positive charge directed toward the wound using direct current (DC) or monophasic/biphasic pulsed electrical currents. 5,12 Low frequency alternating current (AC) has not been used with much success sin...

Bio-field array: a dielectrophoretic electromagnetic toroidal excitation to restore and maintain the golden ratio in human erythrocytes

“…The erythrocyte is highly specialized and the most abundant cell in the body which makes it an interesting cell to study since it differs in many ways from other eukaryotic cells in that it has no internal membranes and the surface membrane appears to operate very differently from other cell types (Pandy and Rizvi ). The plasma and internal membranes of other eukaryotic cells can be considered to function like a dielectrophoretic electromagnetic dipole where anions and cations act as a current loop to drive membrane potential on either side of the cell membrane (Purnell and Skrinjar ,b). The red blood cell unique design is a toroid where currents also flow on the surface of the torus (Fig.…”

“…). The Bio‐Field Array is a device that delivers ~2.5 to 3 amperes of direct current (dc) to an array that consists of a series of conductive rings that are designed to create a dielectrophoretic (DEP) electromagnetic (EMF) field in the water or a hypotonic ionic solution (Purnell and Skrinjar ,b; Purnell ).…”

The Influence of a Diamagnetic Copper Induced Field on Ion Flow and the Bernoulli Effect in Biological Systems

“…The application of a copper influenced dielectrophoretic electromagnetic field appears to increase viscosity (harnessing of magnetic energy), decrease pressure (via decreased macroscopic mechanical energy) while conserving energy and facilitating motion/fluid flow in biological systems, i.e., the Bernoulli Effect (Figure 7) [9, 11-14, 22, 23, 30-34]. Therefore, this field application and the effect on ion flow has the potential to address multiple co-morbidities such as: hypertension, cancer, wound care, organ dysfunction, infectious disease and cardiovascular disease [9,12,13,17,23,33,34]. Dielectrophoretic electromagnetic Fields's generation of potential and kinetic bio-energy and possible conservation of energy (a Bernoulli effect in biological systems) where internal, kinetic and potential energy remain constant or increase in exchange for a decrease in system pressure and an increase in temperature (homeostasis of ion differentials, blood pressure and temperature).…”

Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction: A Bioelectric Mechanism?

“…[12][13][14] Recent work in this field has revealed the importance of bioelectric networks not only in embryogenesis but also in adult regeneration, stem cell biology, cancer, and immune system function. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Importantly, recent computational models predicted that some bioelectric circuits exhibit a kind of memory, in which induced changes of V mem are actively maintained. [28][29][30][31] Research in model systems, such as regenerative planarian flatworms (an important model for human neurophysiology and pharmacology [32][33][34][35][36][37] ), has revealed a remarkable longterm memory that can be induced by alterations to endogenous ion flows.…”