Nanosecond pulsed electric field induces calcium mobilization in osteoblasts

Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) has the ability to induce a host of intracellular biochemical processes in living cells as a function of parameter setting. In vitro experiments proved that nsPEF stimulation could remarkably promote biomineralization processes and new bone formation. However, the impact of nsPEF parameter settings on the calcium flux of osteoblasts, as well as the intracellular mechanisms underlying those observations have yet to be elucidated. In this study, live osteoblast-like MG63 cells were loaded with fluorescence indicator dye fluo-4 AM. nsPEF stimulation could induce intracellular calcium mobilization in MG63 cells with no refractory period. We confirmed that moderate output voltage (4-8 KV) and large pulse number (25) were required for efficient nsPEF irritation of MG63 cells. Additionally, nsPEF stimulation-induced calcium flux in MG63 cells was dramatically reduced with the treatment by ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), proving that the intake of extracellular calcium ions is crucial for increasing intracellular calcium concentration of nsPEF-treated MG63 cells. Our preliminary study investigated the mechanisms underlying nsPEF stimulation-induced calcium mobilization in osteoblast-like cells, and it has the potential to accelerate the application of nsPEF stimulation in new bone formation.