Electromagnetic Information Transfer through Aqueous System: State of the Art

Osteoblast differentiation is an important process needed to maintain the continuous supply of mature osteoblast cells for growth, repair and remodelling of bones. The regulation of this process has also an important and significant impact on clinical strategies and future applications of cell therapy. We studied the effect of Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) tuned at calcium-ion cyclotron frequency of 50 Hz exposure on bone differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) alone or in synergy with dexamethasone, their canonical chemical differentiation agent. Five days of continuous exposure to calcium-ion cyclotron resonance (Ca2+-ICR) affect hMSC proliferation, morphology and cytoskeletal actin reorganization. We also observed an increase of osteoblast differentiation markers' expression such as Runx2, Alkaline Phosphatase, (ALP), Osteocalcin (OC), and Osteopontin (OPN) together with the Osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA modulation. Moreover, in these cells, the increase of the protein expression of Osteopontin and Alkaline Phosphatase was also demonstrated. These results demonstrate bone commitment of hMSCs through a non-invasive and biocompatible differentiating physical agent treatment and highlights its possible applications in new biophysical regenerative medicine protocols.