Study on Pulse Electric Field Exposure Effect on HeLa Cells For Wound Healing Application

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of pulse electric field (PEF) exposure on cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) in an in-vitro wound repair model. The study mainly focused on the healing time of HeLa cell line wound model. During the experiments HeLa cells were maintained at 37°C in a modified Chamlide EC magnetic chamber where they were exposed to high electric fields. A Nikon inverted microscope (Ti-series) with Metamorph® time lapse software were used to monitor, image and capture photomicrographs and videos of the cells. The tests carried out during this study revealed that pulse electric field enhanced the migration of HeLa cells. Cells exposed to PEF (1kV/cm, 100μs, and single pulse) healed the wound in ∼2 hours (from initial wound gap of 54.53μm ± 0.55SD to 0.66μm ± 0.61SD). On the other hand, non-PEF (control) healed the wound in ~10 hours (from initial wound gap of 56.33μm ± 0.57SD to 0.46μm ± 0.45SD). It was therefore found that the healing rate with PEF is ∼five times faster than non-PEF group. It is believed that PEF usage on diseased biological cells would enable a novel method for assisting drug free wound repair systems and many other potential biomedical engineering applications such as treatment of neurological disorders including Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

Enhancement of Nano-Biopolymer Antibacterial Activity by Pulsed Electric Fields

“…Most causes of delayed healing in chronic wounds are, but not limited to, microbial infection, poor blood circulation and other severe impaired healing processes such as lack of epithelial migration, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation. Wound infection occurs due to a disturbed host–bacteria equilibrium process in a traumatized tissue environment which favors bacteria and leads to inhibition of the healing process [ 25 ]. In addition, it is important to bear in mind that the microbial contamination may not be only on the surface but also deep in the wound tissue, that could be complicated by the presence of biofilms and/or antibiotic resistance.…”

Enhanced Cell Viability and Migration of Primary Bovine Annular Fibrosus Fibroblast-like Cells Induced by Microsecond Pulsed Electric Field Exposure

“… 9 For this reason, PEF-induced AFC proliferation has the potential to enhance the regeneration of the AF tissue. Similarly, cell migration is vital to mammalian cell embryonic growth; 41 hence, systematic PEF-induced AFC migration can be valuable to AF tissue regeneration.…”