Bioelectrodynamics: A New Patient Care Strategy for Nursing, Health, and Wellness

Modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response in cancerous and noncancerous cells

OBJECTIVES

The bio-field array is a device that generates a dielectrophoretic electromagnetic field when placed in a hypotonic saline solution and a direct current of approximately 3 A is applied. It is known that cell physiology is guided by bioelectrical properties, and there is a significant growth inhibition in cancerous (MDA-MB-231) cells that are grown in media that has been reconstituted with the saline that has been exposed to the bio-field array direct current dielectrophoretic electromagnetic field, alternatively there is no growth inhibition noted in noncancerous cells (MCF-10A) when grown in the bio-field array direct current dielectrophoretic electromagnetic field treated versus control media.

METHODS

To examine the basis for selective growth inhibition in human breast carcinoma, we employed cell death assays, cell cycle assays, microarray analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

We found a large transcriptional reprogramming in the cell lines and of the genes affected, those involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response pathways showed some of the most dramatic changes. Cancerous cells grown in media that has been reconstituted with a hypotonic saline solution that has been exposed to the bio-field array direct current dielectrophoretic electromagnetic field show a significant and strong upregulation of the apoptotic arms of the unfolded protein response while the noncancerous cells show a decrease in endoplasmic reticulum stress via microarray analyses and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

CONCLUSION

The bio-field array shows potential to initiate apoptosis in cancerous cells while relieving cell stress in noncancerous cells in vitro. These studies lay a foundation for nurses to conduct future in vivo models for the possible development of future adjunct treatments in chronic disease.

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

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.