Cell deformation and increase of cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs due to low-intensity transient electromagnetic pulses

In this paper, cell deformation induced by low-intensity electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) is presented. A broad-band transverse electromagnetic wave cell (BTEM cell) was used in the experimental system to simulate the free space transmission condition. The biological samples were exposed to the EMP field in the BTEM cell. After the chick's erythrocytes were exposed to EMP field, pores on their membranes were observed by a scanning electron microscope. Cell fusion was also found between the chick's erythrocytes as well as between the rabbit's. In other experiments, it is found that the EMP field can increase the cytotoxicity of some anticancer drugs. The results suggest that the membrane deformation is a secondary effect of electromagnetic fields.