Translocation of silica nanospheres through giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) induced by a high frequency electromagnetic field.

PAPER pubmed RSC advances 2021 In vitro study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1039/d1ra05459g PMID: 35496859 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Membrane model systems capable of mimicking live cell membranes were used for the first time in studying the effects arising from electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of 18 GHz where membrane permeability was observed following exposure. A present lack of understanding of the mechanisms that drive such a rapid change in membrane permeabilization as well as any structural or dynamic changes imparted on biomolecules affected by high-frequency electromagnetic irradiation limits the use of 18 GHz EMFs in biomedical applications. A phospholipid, 1,2-dioleoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) labelled with a fluorescent marker 1,2-dioleoyl--glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine--(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl) (rhodamine-DOPE) was used in constructing the giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). After three cycles of exposure, enhanced membrane permeability was observed by the internalisation of hydrophilic silica nanospheres of 23.5 nm and their clusters. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membranes exposed to high frequency electric fields of different field strengths showed that within the simulation timeframe only extremely high strength fields were able to cause an increase in the interfacial water dynamics characterized by water dipole realignments. However, a lower strength, high frequency EMF induced changes of the water hydrogen bond network, which may contribute to the mechanisms that facilitate membrane permeabilization in a longer timeframe.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) constructed from DOPC with rhodamine-DOPE; molecular dynamics simulations of POPC membranes

Sample size

—

Exposure

microwave · 18000 MHz · three cycles of exposure

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure of GUV membrane model systems to 18 GHz EMFs was associated with increased membrane permeability, evidenced after three exposure cycles by internalisation of 23.5 nm hydrophilic silica nanospheres and clusters. In all-atom MD simulations of POPC membranes, only extremely high-strength fields increased interfacial water dynamics within the simulation timeframe, while lower-strength high-frequency fields altered the water hydrogen-bond network, which may contribute to permeabilization over longer times.

Outcomes measured

Membrane permeability/permeabilization
Internalisation/translocation of hydrophilic silica nanospheres (23.5 nm) through membranes
Interfacial water dynamics (water dipole realignments)
Water hydrogen bond network changes

Limitations

In vitro membrane model system (GUVs) rather than living cells or organisms
Exposure duration described only as "three cycles" without further detail
Field strength details for the experimental exposure are not provided in the abstract
MD simulation findings depend on simulation timeframe and field strengths; translation to experimental conditions is uncertain

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 18000,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "three cycles of exposure"
    },
    "population": "Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) constructed from DOPC with rhodamine-DOPE; molecular dynamics simulations of POPC membranes",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Membrane permeability/permeabilization",
        "Internalisation/translocation of hydrophilic silica nanospheres (23.5 nm) through membranes",
        "Interfacial water dynamics (water dipole realignments)",
        "Water hydrogen bond network changes"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure of GUV membrane model systems to 18 GHz EMFs was associated with increased membrane permeability, evidenced after three exposure cycles by internalisation of 23.5 nm hydrophilic silica nanospheres and clusters. In all-atom MD simulations of POPC membranes, only extremely high-strength fields increased interfacial water dynamics within the simulation timeframe, while lower-strength high-frequency fields altered the water hydrogen-bond network, which may contribute to permeabilization over longer times.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro membrane model system (GUVs) rather than living cells or organisms",
        "Exposure duration described only as \"three cycles\" without further detail",
        "Field strength details for the experimental exposure are not provided in the abstract",
        "MD simulation findings depend on simulation timeframe and field strengths; translation to experimental conditions is uncertain"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "18 GHz",
        "high frequency electromagnetic field",
        "microwave",
        "giant unilamellar vesicles",
        "GUV",
        "membrane permeability",
        "DOPC",
        "POPC",
        "silica nanospheres",
        "molecular dynamics",
        "water dipole realignment",
        "hydrogen bond network"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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