Effects of electrical biostimulation and silver ions on porcine fibroblast cells

Abstract

The medical applications of electrical biostimulation and silver ions have been evaluated in laboratory experiments and clinical studies for more than two decades. Their effects on preventing infection and promoting wound healing have been described. However, little is known about the role of electrical biostimulation and/or silver ion on changes in cellular transcriptome dynamics. To our knowledge, few studies have been conducted to investigate the potential of electrical biostimulation and silver ions in cell reprogramming. Besides, it is essential to assess any possible adverse effects or potential benefits of the silver ions on mammalian cells to address its safety concerns and to improve silver medical products. In this study, we investigated transcriptomic changes in porcine fibroblast cells in response to electrical biostimulation in the presence of silver ions. Exposed cells presented distinct morphological changes after treatment, which was mainly due to the exposure of silver ions rather than the electrical current itself. Gene expression analyses suggested that electrical biostimulation and silver ions did not increase the expression of pluripotency genes. Interestingly, a set of genes related to cellular metabolic processes were differentially expressed after cells were exposed to electrically generated silver ions for 21 hours. We found that 2.00 mg/L of electrically generated silver ion caused an increase of ATP generation and an increase of the total pool of NAD+ and NADH, while ROS production did not change. Aside from toxic effects, the results reported herein demonstrate the alternative effects of silver ions on mammalian cells, especially an oxidative phosphorylation burst. To our knowledge, this response of mammalian cells to silver ions has not been described previously. Although the function of this burst is not understood, it may lead to alterations in cellular activities such as metabolic remodeling and cell reprogramming, and/or serve an as-yet unknown function in neutralization or detoxification of the silver ions within the cells.

Generation of direct current electrical fields as regenerative therapy for spinal cord injury: A review

“…The redox reaction on their surfaces follow: This means, passage of current results in a release of silver ions at the anode, making the stimulation cytotoxic. 85,86 In order to inhibit the transport of silver ions to the tissue, electrodes can be constructed as wick electrodes, in which the Ag/AgCl electrode is at one side of an electrolyte filled tube containing a centimeter-long cotton thread, with the tissue being on the other side. 29,63–65 Eluted silver ions migrate through the cotton thread over time both due to passive diffusion, but also driven by the electric field.…”

Multiple Cell Cultures for MRI Analysis

“…Biologically neutral synthetic PCL scaffolds [ 148 ] are also popular, used, inter alia, for breeding Ewing’s sarcoma TC-71 [ 134 ], prostate cancer PC3 [ 149 ], and LNCaP [ 150 ]. In a recent study by Zhao et al, they presented the culture of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) on poly (lactide and glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds and assessed the effect of Smad4 on caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression [ 151 ]. On the other hand, Hamedani et al, in their work, presented an innovative PLGA-based electrospun polymer fiber scaffold for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).…”

Bioelectronic Direct Current Stimulation at the Transition Between Reversible and Irreversible Charge Transfer

“…[14][15][16][17] However, sustained application of DCS requires specialized electrode materials or technological solutions that mediate between two seemingly contradictory aspects of continuous charge injection namely eluting ions from the electrode but by mechanisms that do not corrode or degrade the electrode or generate toxic concentrations of stimulation by-products in the tissue. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Recent research highlights the capability of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) to drive wound healing and electrotaxis in cancer cells, for instance, and underscores the potential of CPs to deliver DCS and modulate biological processes that involve naturally occurring direct current electric fields (dcEFs). [25][26][27][28] While these experiments demonstrate the efficiency of DCS within carefully chosen parameters, faradaic charge transfer and its effect on cells and tissue is yet to be taken into account.…”

“…[ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] However, sustained application of DCS requires specialized electrode materials or technological solutions that mediate between two seemingly contradictory aspects of continuous charge injection namely eluting ions from the electrode but by mechanisms that do not corrode or degrade the electrode or generate toxic concentrations of stimulation by‐products in the tissue. [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]…”