SCIENTIFIC HUB

Follow the evidence.

SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE · MED

Electrical Stimulation of Cells: Drivers, Technology, and Effects.

Chem Rev · 2025-07-17

DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00468PMID: 40674565

Open accessResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; review-article; Review; Journal ArticleOriginal source ↗

Research overview

The text below is the source article’s original abstract under a verified reuse license. cc by

Exposure of cells to electric fields is used in applications as diverse as deep brain stimulation to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, tumor-treating fields to delay the progression of hard-to-treat cancers, and electroporation to deliver genetic materials to cells. It is also used to study the fundamental properties of electrically active cells and to induce changes in cell behavior, such as the directed outgrowth of neurites, that may one day find applications in the clinic. This review discusses some of the effects elicited on cells upon exposure to electric fields, both acutely and at longer time scales, and considers the underlying mechanisms proposed. It also provides an overview of the technology used to study the effects of exposure of cell to electric fields, including the different types of metal/electrolyte interfaces and the electrode materials used in in vitro and in vivo applications. The aim is to bring together concepts from different communities to highlight similarities, identify potential synergies, and create common ground that may lead to cross-fertilization and advances in the field.

Scientific assessment

01

Research question

Assess the question within the original study’s scope.

02

Methods & sample

Check the source article for study design and sample details.

03

Key findings

An editorially approved findings summary is not yet published for this record.

04

Limitations

Generalizability, bias and clinical meaning require separate assessment.

Methods, samples and clinical conclusions are not inferred from bibliographic metadata.