Abstract

Abstract Summary

Overview

Investigation into the impact of high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), specifically at 18 GHz, on the physiology of membrane transport within pheochromocytoma PC 12 cells. This analysis seeks to understand the substantial yet under-studied effects of both non-intentional environmental and directed therapeutic or diagnostic EMF exposures.

Methods and Results

• Experiment setup included subjecting PC 12 cell suspensions to three consecutive cycles of 30-second EMF exposure at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.17 kW kg-1, with cooling in between to minimize thermal effects.
• Findings demonstrated a transient increase in membrane permeability, as evidenced by rapid internalization of silica nanospheres and their clusters, lasting for 9 minutes and affecting up to 90% of treated cells.
• PC 12 cells exposed to equivalent thermal conditions showed negligible nanosphere uptake, confirming the specific role of EMF exposure in observed effects.

Conclusion

The study illustrates potential applications of EMFs in biomedical settings, such as enhancing the transport of biomolecules and genetic material across cell membranes without inducing permanent damage or cell death, marking it a promising technique for drug delivery and gene therapy.