Numerical modelling of cell electrotaxis through single-dipole approximation

Abstract

Electrotaxis is the cell migration induced by the presence of an external electric field (EF). It has been found that electrotaxis directs cell migration parallel to the EF and towards a preferential electrode. However, the internal cellular mechanisms affected by the external EF are not well understood. The goal of this work is to introduce a numerical framework for modelling electrotaxis by calculating the EF distribution inside the cells. The key assumption is that the cells (due to their dielectric nature) behave approximately as dipoles when exposed to an impressed EF. Besides, cell dynamics is described using two reaction-diffusion equations. Numerical results—obtained for osteogenic cell migration by electrotaxis—are in agreement with experimental reports and provide an insight into the cell-to-cell interactions in the presence of an external EF. Therefore, our model may constitute a methodological basis for the study of causal relations between EF and cells.