Sensitivity of Cell Cultures on Time-Varying Low-Frequency Magnetic Field Changes

Abstract

This article is focused on the in vitro experimental verification of the basic necessary conditions for valid interpretation of an ion parametric resonance prediction model of biological reaction on an externally applied, extremely low-frequency magnetic field. Experiments are performed on model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BY4741, with the intention to target calcium ions, which already produced interesting preliminary results within authors’ previous works, confirming specific magnetic field settings being bioactive. To study the nature and origin of biological reactions more exhaustingly, the research is aimed at two chosen physical aspects of ion parametric resonance theory. In the first part, experiments are set up to verify the resonance point validity for calcium ions and to perform a sensitivity analysis of the biological system response around this point. In the second part, the main attention is paid to the verification of the validity of maximum biological effect at specific BAC/BDC ratios, reflecting the ion parametric resonance theory as well as the current state of the art and knowledge. Both series of experiments have shown interesting results, confirming 29.89 Hz as a bioactive frequency for a BAC/BDC ratio of 1.8. These observations are in close correlation with the assumptions of the ion parametric resonance model for targeting calcium ions. The performed sensitivity analysis around the resonance point looks even more interesting, as conducted preliminary experiments resulted in two more pronounced bioactive frequencies of 24.89 and 34.89 Hz, in terms of biological response significance, than the resonance frequency assumed by an investigated prediction model. The narrow width of the peak, which is typical for physical phenomena of resonant nature, was not observed within this series of experiments, which would be addressed more precisely in future work of authors.

Keywords

• low-frequency electromagnetic field
• <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> yeast
• magnetic field exposure
• YPD medium
• magnetic field homogeneity
• biocompatibility