Open AccessThe effect of frequency in the electrical stimulation of chondrocytes
Author(s) -
Juan J. González,
Juan Felipe Escobar Huertas,
Diego Alexánder Garzón-Alvarado
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
visión electrónica/visión electrónica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2248-4728
pISSN - 1909-9746
DOI - 10.14483/22484728.16028
Subject(s) - stimulation , chondrocyte , cartilage , biomedical engineering , electric field , materials science , biophysics , tissue engineering , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , anatomy , neuroscience , medicine , physics , quantum mechanics
Electrical stimulation is a non-invasive therapy used to stimulate chondrocyte dynamics: proliferation, migration, morphology and molecular synthesis. Some studies have evidenced the role of frequency in the generation of electric fields; however, the electrical stimulation sensed by chondrocytes when the frequency varies is not well-documented. Accordingly, a computational model was implemented to assess the frequency dependence of electric fields that stimulate chondrocytes. Cells were modelled in three different scenarios: monolayer cultures, cartilage explants and scaffolds. Chondrocytes were stimulated with 100 Vp-p at frequencies of 0.001, 1, 10, 50, 100 and 1000 kHz. Results showed that frequency is a relevant factor when considering the stimulation of biological samples, since electric fields increased as frequencies were higher. Moreover, chondrocytes experienced different electric fields in both cytoplasm and extracellular environment. This model provides relevant information about the electrical parameters to stimulate cells; in fact, it could enhance experimental procedures, predicting the stimulation that improves chondrocyte dynamics. Electric fields are a promising tool to maintain either well-structured chondrocytes or biomimetic materials used in regenerative therapies such as autologous implantation to treat hyaline cartilage injuries.