Pulse width and intensity effects of pulsed electric fields on cancerous and normal skin cells

Abstract

Microsecond pulsed electric fields (PEF) have previously been used for various tumour therapies, such as gene therapy, electrochemotherapy and irreversible electroporation (IRE), due to its demonstrated ability. However, recently nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) have also been used as a potential tumor therapy via inducing cell apoptosis or immunogenic cell death to prevent recurrence and metastasis by interacting with intracellular organelles. A large proportion of the existing in-vitro studies of nsPEF on cells also suggests cell necrosis and swelling/blebbing can be induced, but the replicability and potential for other effects on cells suggesting a complicated process which requires further investigation. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of pulse width and intensity of nsPEF on the murine melanoma cells (B16) and normal murine fibroblast cells (L929) through electromagnetic simulation and in-vitro experiments. Through examining the evolution patterns of potential difference and electric fields on the intracellular compartments, the simulation has shown a differential effect of nsPEF on normal and cancerous skin cells, which explains well the results observed in the reported experiments. In addition, the modelling has provided a clear evidence that a few hundreds of ns PEF may have caused a mixed mode of effects, i.e. a ‘cocktail effect’, including cell electroporation and IRE due to an over their threshold voltage induced on the plasma membrane, as well as cell apoptosis and other biological effects caused by its interaction with the intracellular compartments. The in-vitro experiments in the pulse range of the hundreds of nanoseconds showed a possible differential cytotoxicity threshold of electric field intensity between B16 cells and L929 cells.

Complex magnetic fields represent an eco-sustainable technology to counteract the resistant Candida albicans growth without affecting the human gingival fibroblasts

“…As shown by Rao et al in 2022, cellular response is higly influenced by the parameters of the magnetic field, like the pulse width. Also small modifications of this parameter, from nanoseconds to milliseconds 35 , were associated with different patterns of intracellular compartments, and consequently, to different biological effects. The effects of CMFs on fibroblasts’s ROS production is dependent on the program applied, but also on the cellular status.…”

Combinatorial Anticancer Effects of The Non-Invasive High Voltage micro-second Pulse Electric Field with Low-Dose Curcumin on A549 Cells

“…The simulation studies further shown that very short nsPEF (30 ns) induces differential response in a between cancerous and normal cells based on the differences in the morphological features as well as the pattern of potential difference assembled on the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. The simulation data was further veri ed with in-vitro work on B16 cells and L929 cells [33]. In order to improve the desired prognosis while minimising side effects, it is crucial to take into account the selective sensitivity of normal and malignant cells to nsPEF.…”

Bioelectricity in dental medicine: a narrative review

“…A pulsed electric field with nanosecond-level pulse width can create significantly smaller pores on the cytomembrane compared to those observed with microsecond-range electroporation, which only permits the passage of small molecules like ions [ 216 ]. Hence, some biological effects, such as cell apoptosis induced by electroporation, can only be triggered by EStim with definite wave width [ 217 ]. In summary, despite a number of clinical research revealed the significance of parameters of pulsed EStim, the underline mechanisms still require more investigations before complete emerging.…”