Local deformation of human red blood cells in high frequency electric field.

A method of local and general deformation of single erythrocytes by external forces in high-frequency electric field is described. The method allows the avoidance of any mechanical contact of the cell with electrodes. Under the action of the forces applied human erythrocytes change their shape and produce various membrane structures: long filopodia-like processes, retraction fibers and lamella-like structures. These structures are never formed by erythrocytes under normal conditions, but are typical for fibroblasts, macrophages and epithelium cells. By the method developed the elastic properties of spicules on the membranes of echinocytes were also studied. Deformation of echinocyte in high-frequency electric field leads to the smoothing out of spicules. However, after the electric field is turned off, echinocyte restores its initial forms including the number and localization of all initial spicules on the cell surface.