OPTIC BIOEM · Toward the comprehension of primary bioelectromagnetic interactions: real time non-linear OPTICal imaging of BIO-samples under ElectroMagnetic exposure
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2015-09-01 → 2017-08-31
- EU contribution
- €173,076
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Toward the comprehension of primary bioelectromagnetic interactions: real time non-linear OPTICal imaging of BIO-samples under ElectroMagnetic exposure
Context and overall objectives: In bioelectromagnetics research, one of the major scientific limitations is the lack of hypotheses and experimental corroboration of interaction mechanisms. This issue is extremely pertinent in medical applications of EMFs, where one of the most studied topics is related to the mechanisms of cell membranes permeabilization through pulsed E fields. Beside a first hypothesized mechanism for cell membranes permeabilization mediated by mechanical rearrangement of the membrane phospholipids, the E pulse delivery seems, rather, to alter or promote chemical reactions involving phospholipids peroxidation of cell membranes which, as a consequence, are responsible also for their structural changes. This new hypothesis could have a great impact on the definition and optimization of biological and medical treatments and protocols using pulsed E fields. Thus, the use of an optical non-linear imaging technique (i.e. CARS) seems extremely suitable to follow and image, with a time resolution of few nanosecond, the dynamics of specifically chosen chemical bonds of membrane lipids involved in peroxidation and the surrounding water molecules. Therefore, under the OPTIC BIOEM action a unique non-linear optical system was coupled with a very original EM exposure setup able to deliver, to biological loads in vitro, controlled E pulses covering a spread frequency spectrum in matched conditions. Conclusion of the action: OPTIC BIOEM was a successful project since all the objectives were reached in the appropriate time. I, also, performed outstanding training and network activities during all the project period together with constant dissemination of the results as detailed in this summary. CARS hyperspectral imaging were carried out on the established samples. This type of analysis is completely new and the obtained results opened the way to a deep comprehension of electro-permeabilization mechanisms.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Cell membrane permeabilization, involving its reversible or irreversible restructuring, under extremely short electric (E) pulses exposure (from hundreds of us down to few ns) has a key role in a number of clinical, preclinical, and medical research applications. Hence, the knowledge of its bio-physical nature and dynamics (i.e. formation and resealing processes) is crucial for an aware control of delivered protocols, and for predicting treatments efficacy under established biological (e.g. buffer conductivity, cell dimensions) and electromagnetic (EM) conditions (e.g. pulse duration, amplitude, shape). To understand bio-physical mechanisms underlying such a pulse-exposure permeabilization, an innovative and advantageous approach is proposed based on real-time molecular vibrational modes imaging using fast Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) of in vitro samples under such a stimulation. Hence, in the present Marie Sklodowska Curie Action (MSCA), a fast CARS microscope will be integrated with a suitable wide band in vitro electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure setup to study the role of membrane lipid reactions and interfacial water in the electropermeabilization phenomenon. This innovative CARS analysis will be supported by mass spectroscopy measurements to verify the appearance of corresponding chemical species, and by simulated E field and pore density distributions on the bio-samples. This last step is an attempt to correlate sample areas presenting the highest CARS signal intensity with the correspondent E field and pore density distributions. The program that integrates engineering, physics, chemistry and biology will allow a substantial progression in my career and network ability through the work on a completely innovative, multidisciplinary and inter-disciplinary subject in one of the most reputed bioelectric laboratory, where the applications of electropermeabilization in biology and medicine where first developed in Europe and worldwide.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisCoordinatorFrance
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/661041
- https://arquivo.pt/wayback/20201229135017/https://sites.google.com/site/opticbioemmsca/home
Data: CORDIS, © European Union