A Dual Mode Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Cell Stimulator Produces Acceleration of Myogenic Differentiation

Walter      D. Leon-Salas; Hatem      Rizk; Chenglin      Mo; Noah      Weisleder; Leticia      Brotto; Eduardo      Abreu; Marco      Brotto

Abstract

This paper presents the design and test of a dual-mode electric and magnetic biological stimulator (EM-Stim). The stimulator generates pulsing electric and magnetic fields at programmable rates and intensities. While electric and magnetic stimulators have been reported before, this is the first device that combines both modalities. The ability of the dual stimulation to target bone and muscle tissue simultaneously has the potential to improve the therapeutic treatment of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. The device is fully programmable, portable and easy to use, and can run from a battery or a power supply. The device can generate magnetic fields of up to 1.6 mT and output voltages of +/- 40 V. The EM-Stim accelerated myogenic differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes as evidenced by morphometric, gene expression, and protein content analyses. Currently, there are many patents concerned with the application of single electrical or magnetic stimulation, but none that combine both simultaneously. However, we applied for and obtained a provisional patent for new device to fully explore its therapeutic potential in pre-clinical models.

Keywords: Electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, microcontrollers, embedded software, switched-mode power supply, muscle cells, protein synthesis, C2C12 myoblasts, C2C12 myotubes, myogenesis, myogenic differentiation, proliferation, cell area, muscle wasting, sarcopenia