A scheme to transform extracellular matrices into source and sink modes engulfing cancerous cells

The frequency dependent dielectric property of biological tissues plays a pivotal role in deciphering the intricacies of electromagnetic field cancer cell interaction and propels new therapeutics in the domain of electrotherapy. This study investigates a theoretical and computational approach to study the propagation of electromagnetic fields in a multilayered tissue model consisting of extracellular matrix (ECM), phospholipid bilayer, and intracellular media. The targeted delivery and accumulation of nanoparticles (NPs) of aspect ratio ∼100 in the ECM transform it into source and sink modes due to the distribution of electric field lines in the ECM region. Nanoparticles induce localized heating due to the increased specific absorption rate to achieve a steady-state temperature rise of 55°C within the first half cycle of the EM field and thermal diffusion and cooling in the refractory period of the EM field. The temperature variation instigates cell death (apoptosis) through localized hyperthermia. The duration of EM field application to achieve hyperthermia is inversely proportional to the frequency of the applied electric field and the concentration of the nanoparticles in the ECM. In the frequency range of a few tens of kHz such as 20 − 40 kHz and NP ECM concentration in the range 50%−100%, hyperthermia-triggered optimum apoptosis yield can be achieved in the time scale of ∼ 41.33–10.25 h. In the sub-kHz frequency of ∼50 Hz, hyperthermia application time increases to ∼20 months. However, in the very low frequency regime, the source–sink oscillations are progressively suppressed and the system transitions to a diffusion-dominated regime, while preserving the inverse frequency–NP relationship.