Frequency change-induced alternative potential waveform dependence of membrane damage to cells cultured on an electrode surface.

In the present study, alternative potential stimulation with rectangular pulse, sine and triangular waveforms at 10 and 100Hz was applied to cells cultured on an ITO electrode. As a result, we found that the alternating potential waveform dependence induced by the frequency on membrane damage of cells cultured on an electrode surface. The cell membrane damage was promoted by a rectangular pulse wave in comparison with sine and triangular waves, when alternating electrical potentials of 0 to +1.0V at 100Hz were loaded. In contrast, this waveform dependence was not observed when the frequency was 10Hz. Furthermore, it was found that cell membrane damage was induced at positive potentials more than +0.8V under the present experimental conditions.