The Action of the Pulsed Electric Field of the Subnanosecond Range on Human Tumor Cells

The action of the pulsed electric field of the subnanosecond range on Jurkat, HEK 293, and U-87 MG human cell lines was studied. The cells were treated in a waveguide in 0.18 ml electrodeless Teflon cuvettes. The electric field strength in the cell culture medium was ~2 kV/cm, the pulse duration was ~1 ns, the leading edge was 150 ps, the frequency was 100 Hz, and the treatment time was 5 min. According to estimates, the change of the transmembrane potential during the pulse was ~20 mV and we assume that it was insufficient for electroporation. Jurkat and HEK 293 cells appeared to be more resistant to the treatment than U-87 MG cells. We have observed that the impulses with the above-mentioned parameters can cause a noticeable change in the mitochondrial activity of U-87 MG cells. © 2022 Bioelectromagnetics Society.