Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Quantitative analysis of adherent cell orientation influenced by strong magnetic fields med./bio.

By: Umeno A, Ueno S
Published in: IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 2003; 2 (1): 26-28
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effect of strong magnetic fields on adherent cells and to quantitavely evaluate the orientational order in the cell culture (smooth muscle cells, cultured in 8- or 14-T superconducting magnets, exhibited orientational order parallel to the magnetic field direction).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1:
Exposure duration: continuous for 3 days
Exposure 2:
Exposure duration: continuous for 3 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 3 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup The ambient temperature in the magnets was maintained at 37°C by circulating temperature-regulated water in coiled tubes, which were inserted into the bores.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 8 T - unspecified - -
magnetic flux density 7.5 T - - - with a gradient of 200 T/m 3 cm off the center of the bore
magnetic flux density 6.5 T - - - with a gradient of 400 T/m 5 - 6 cm off the center of the bore

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 3 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 14 T - unspecified - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Smooth muscle cells cultured at the center of the 8- or 14-T superconducting magnet's bore exhibited an orientational order parallel to the direction of the magnetic field. The degree of orientation was higher for cells exposed to stronger magnetic fields. In contrast, the control culture did not show a one-directional orientation order. The cells exposed off-center to the bore showed a lower degree of orientation than the cells at the center.
The authors suggest that the cells organize themselves to minimize their diamagnetic torsion stresses, which can be induced in the uniform magnetic fields by the membrane's diamagnetic anisotropy.

Study character:

Study funded by