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Bielfeldt M, Budde-Sagert K, Weis N, Buenning M, Staehlke S, Zimmermann J, Arbeiter N, Mobini S, González MU, Rebl H, Uhrmacher A, van Rienen U, Nebe B. Discrimination between the effects of pulsed electrical stimulation and electrochemically conditioned medium on human osteoblasts. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:71. [PMID: 37996914 PMCID: PMC10668359 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00393-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrical stimulation is used for enhanced bone fracture healing. Electrochemical processes occur during the electrical stimulation at the electrodes and influence cellular reactions. Our approach aimed to distinguish between electrochemical and electric field effects on osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. We applied 20 Hz biphasic pulses via platinum electrodes for 2 h. The electrical stimulation of the cell culture medium and subsequent application to cells was compared to directly stimulated cells. The electric field distribution was predicted using a digital twin. RESULTS Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed partial electrolysis at the electrodes, which was confirmed by increased concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the medium. While both direct stimulation and AC-conditioned medium decreased cell adhesion and spreading, only the direct stimulation enhanced the intracellular calcium ions and reactive oxygen species. CONCLUSION The electrochemical by-product hydrogen peroxide is not the main contributor to the cellular effects of electrical stimulation. However, undesired effects like decreased adhesion are mediated through electrochemical products in stimulated medium. Detailed characterisation and monitoring of the stimulation set up and electrochemical reactions are necessary to find safe electrical stimulation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike Bielfeldt
- Institute for Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Kai Budde-Sagert
- Institute of Communications Engineering, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
- Institute for Visual and Analytic Computing, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nikolai Weis
- Institute for Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Maren Buenning
- Institute for Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Susanne Staehlke
- Institute for Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Julius Zimmermann
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nils Arbeiter
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
| | - Sahba Mobini
- Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología, IMN-CNM, CSIC (CEI UAM+CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, E-28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ujué González
- Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología, IMN-CNM, CSIC (CEI UAM+CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, E-28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Henrike Rebl
- Institute for Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Adelinde Uhrmacher
- Institute for Visual and Analytic Computing, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ursula van Rienen
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
| | - Barbara Nebe
- Institute for Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057, Rostock, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany
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Zimmermann J, Sahm F, Arbeiter N, Bathel H, Song Z, Bader R, Jonitz-Heincke A, van Rienen U. Experimental and numerical methods to ensure comprehensible and replicable alternating current electrical stimulation experiments. Bioelectrochemistry 2023; 151:108395. [PMID: 36773506 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation has received increasing attention for decades for its application in regenerative medicine. Applications range from bone growth stimulation over cartilage regeneration to deep brain stimulation. Despite all research efforts, translation into clinical use has not yet been achieved in all fields. Recent critical assessments have identified limited documentation and monitoring of preclinical in vitro and in vivo experiments as possible reasons hampering clinical translation. In this work, we present experimental and numerical methods to determine the crucial quantities of electrical stimulation such as the electric field or current density. Knowing the stimulation quantities contributes to comprehending the biological response to electrical stimulation and to finally developing a reliable dose-response curve. To demonstrate the methods, we consider a direct contact electrical stimulation experiment that stands representative for a broad class of stimulation experiments. Electrochemical effects are addressed and methods to integrate them into numerical simulations are evaluated. A focus is laid on affordable lab equipment and reproducible open-source software solutions. Finally, clear guidelines to ensure replicability of electrical stimulation experiments are formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Zimmermann
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Franziska Sahm
- Department of Orthopaedics, Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Rostock University Medical Center, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Nils Arbeiter
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany
| | - Henning Bathel
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany
| | - Zezhong Song
- Department of Orthopaedics, Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Rostock University Medical Center, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Rainer Bader
- Department of Orthopaedics, Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Rostock University Medical Center, D-18057 Rostock, Germany; Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany
| | - Anika Jonitz-Heincke
- Department of Orthopaedics, Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Rostock University Medical Center, D-18057 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Ursula van Rienen
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany; Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany; Department of Ageing of Individuals and Society, Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, D-18051 Rostock, Germany.
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Kober M, Bernsdorff F, Zimmermann J, Statz M, Lanto J, Arbeiter N, Bathel H, Payonk P, Fauser M, van Rienen U, Storch A. Characterization of the Electrode Tissue Interface after long-term Deep Brain Stimulation in a 6-Hydroxydopamine Hemi-Parkinson rat model. Brain Stimul 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.01.706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
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Zimmermann J, Budde K, Arbeiter N, Molina F, Storch A, Uhrmacher AM, van Rienen U. Using a Digital Twin of an Electrical Stimulation Device to Monitor and Control the Electrical Stimulation of Cells in vitro. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:765516. [PMID: 34957068 PMCID: PMC8693021 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.765516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation for application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has received increasing attention in recent years. A variety of stimulation methods, waveforms and amplitudes have been studied. However, a clear choice of optimal stimulation parameters is still not available and is complicated by ambiguous reporting standards. In order to understand underlying cellular mechanisms affected by the electrical stimulation, the knowledge of the actual prevailing field strength or current density is required. Here, we present a comprehensive digital representation, a digital twin, of a basic electrical stimulation device for the electrical stimulation of cells in vitro. The effect of electrochemical processes at the electrode surface was experimentally characterised and integrated into a numerical model of the electrical stimulation. Uncertainty quantification techniques were used to identify the influence of model uncertainties on relevant observables. Different stimulation protocols were compared and it was assessed if the information contained in the monitored stimulation pulses could be related to the stimulation model. We found that our approach permits to model and simulate the recorded rectangular waveforms such that local electric field strengths become accessible. Moreover, we could predict stimulation voltages and currents reliably. This enabled us to define a controlled stimulation setting and to identify significant temperature changes of the cell culture in the monitored voltage data. Eventually, we give an outlook on how the presented methods can be applied in more complex situations such as the stimulation of hydrogels or tissue in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Zimmermann
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Kai Budde
- Institute for Visual and Analytic Computing, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nils Arbeiter
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Francia Molina
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Alexander Storch
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Adelinde M Uhrmacher
- Institute for Visual and Analytic Computing, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,Department Life, Light and Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ursula van Rienen
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,Department Life, Light and Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,Department Ageing of Individuals and Society, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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