Direct-current electric field effect on the viability of HeLa cell line

ABSTRACT

Electric fields affect cell life, cancer cells are not spared. Research on the effectiveness of electric fields on the life of cancer cells is carried out using HeLa cells as target cells receiving an electric-field treatment for 24 h. This study is a laboratory experimental study of the viability of cancer cells (HeLa cells), measured by employing the MTT assay method. Experiments are carried out by administering a low direct-current electric field utilizing a couple of aluminum electrode plates on the HeLa cell line, planted in a micro-culture plate with voltages ranging from 46.67 V/m to 600.00 V/m. The dcEF was found to have a profound inhibitory effect on HeLa cell line viability, except at dcEF 93.33 V/m which shows anomalies, in the form of increased viability over control viability (115%). The mortality index reaches almost 100% when induced by dcEF>300.00 V/m. It was observed that the HeLa cell size is larger after dcEF induction was applied.

KEYWORDS:

• Direct current
• electric field
• HeLa
• MTT
• viability

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Biomedic Laboratory, Biomedic Department, and Medical Faculty Andalas University for aiding the research materialized, and Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP) for financial support that has funded this research.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan, (LPDP) [20161141041336].