This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the impulse by dielectrophoretic force applied inside a dividing cell during
alternating electric fields therapy and the inhibition of cell proliferation. Distributions of the electric field and dielectrophoretic force inside
a dividing cell were calculated using the finite element method of COMSOL Multiphysics. Based on the results, the average magnitude of
the impulse by the dielectrophoretic force applied to the cleavage furrow inside a dividing cell placed in various directions was calculated
as a function of electric field intensity at an extracellular reference point. The simulation results showed that the average magnitude of the
impulse to the cleavage furrow inside a dividing cell ranged from 1.51 × 10−9
to 1.49 × 10−7 N s when tumor treating fields with an intensity
ranging from 0.1 to 1 V/cm is applied at an extracellular reference point for 6 h. To verify the relationships between the impulse by the
dielectrophoretic force and the inhibition of cell proliferation, the survival fractions of the four cancer cell lines were determined as a function
of intensity and time duration of the electric field. The correlation between the magnitude and application time of the electric field and the
survival fractions of the four cell lines showed similar trends in vitro. These results suggest that both the dielectrophoretic force and the time
required for the force to act are proportionally related to the inhibitory effect on dividing cells, enabling this impulse to be used as a reference
to quantify the inhibition of cell proliferation.
Geon Oh, Yongha Gi, Jinyoung Hong
Department of Bioengineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Geon Oh, Boram Lee*
Department of Radiation Oncology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea
Yunhui Jo
Institute of Global Health Technology (IGHT), Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Jonghyun Kim, Myonggeun Yoon*
FieldCure Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea