Electric fields and biological cells: numerical insight into possible interaction mechanisms

Exposure of cells and tissues to electric fields can lead to a variety of physiological changes. These changes are caused by the interactions between the incident field and biological, chemical and electric (magnetic) processes. Evaluating whether the physiological changes are beneficial or harmful to the functionality of cells and tissues requires understanding the nature of the interactions, which can be associated with either thermal or non-thermal (bio)-effects. Although a considerable amount of research worldwide has shed light on these effects and their influence in the biological response, much more is left to say about the possible interaction mechanisms and the underlying biological processes modified by the incident field. In fact, the adequate conditions of exposure (dosimetry) needed for cells and tissues to trigger a certain positive response and avoid possible damage are still a matter of debate. Moreover, concerns coming from social sectors about the hazards of the exposure have motivated multiple studies that have yielded controversial results. In view of the lack of knowledge on the biological cues suitable for explaining the effects, and in the light of the social interest in clarifying possible risks derived from the exposure, the aim of this thesis is to identify and assess possible interaction mechanisms between an incident electric field and biological cells and tissues. These mechanisms are elucidated upon determination of the electrical response of biological cells exposed to electric fields, which is obtained by means of the numerical implementation and solution of mathematical models formulated from a biophysics standpoint which combines the fundamentals of biological cells and tissues with the electromagnetic theory. In a first group of models, a numerical approach suitable to model multiple cells based on the quasi-static approximation and the equivalent dipole moment of a dielectric sphere is presented.
https://pure.tue.nl/ws/files/10243383/20151217_CO_Vanegas.pdf