Assessment of Therapeutic Ultrasound Effect on Cell Viability, Osmotic Integrity, and Dielectric Behavior

Abstract

Ultrasound (US) is a sound wave with frequency beyond the human hearing limit (20 kHz). US is relatively available, simple and energy saving. As a result it became hence an emerging technology for many biomedical applications. Low energy (low power, low intensity (>100kHz, 1 W/cm2) ultrasound is used for monitoring the composition and physico-chemical properties. on the other hand, High energy(high power, high-intensity,≤ 500 kHz ) ultrasound may induce mechanical, physical and chemical / biochemical changes through cavitation that is potentially compromising cell viability. Here in the goal of this work to investigate the potential effect of using therapeutic ultrasound on biological cell viability and integrality. Red blood cells (R.B.Cs) were our choice to investigate cell viability under the therapeutic intensity range of 0.5 – 3 W/cm2). Trypan blue dye exclusion test was to determine the integrity of cellular membrane. Cell membrane osmotic fragility of (R.B.Cs) was measured under series of saline solution osmotic pressure. The electrical signature of (R.B.Cs) was correlated before and after ultrasound irradiation. The results showed no significant alteration in (R.B.Cs) integrity and electrical behavior under US irradiation intensity range. As results using of therapeutic ultrasound intensity range of 0.5 – 3 W/cm2), showed no significant harmful effect on R.B.CS integrity and viability under current experimental conditions.