title: An investigation into the combined effect of static magnetic fields and different anticancer drugs on K562 cell membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cell membranes were shown to be sensitive to and affected by static magnetic fields (SMF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells were treated with four anticancer drugs followed by treatment with a combination of drugs and SMF. Individual cells were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The drugs were taxol (alkaloid), doxorubicin (anthracycline), cisplatin (platinum compound) and cyclophosphamide (alkylating agent).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Holes were observed in cells exposed to SMF but not in control groups. The number, size and shape of the holes were dependent on the drug type, SMF parameters and the duration of exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the application of a SMF could alter membrane permeability, increasing the flow of the anticancer drugs. This may be one of the reasons why SMF can strengthen the effect of anticancer drugs. Observations were also made of the effect of using different anticancer drugs. For example, the effect of SMF combined with taxol or cyclophosphamide on the cells was additive while the effect of SMF combined with cisplatin or doxorubicin was synergistic. The target sites of cisplatin and doxorubicin are nucleic acids; continued research is required into this important area to ascertain the effect of SMF on nucleic acids.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Laboratory, College of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xiían, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Run-guang
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wen-fang
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D008280:Magnetics; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin