Enhancing cell proliferation by non-contact nanosecond PEF treatment of cell culture vials

The applicability of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) has been focused on killing of cells by means of direct contact between the nsPEF electrodes and tissue or liquid, such as in melanoma destruction [1] and sterilization of fluids. Here we present a novel, tabletop device that induces nsPEF over an antenna into their native culture medium and sterile and closed cell culture vials. We show that a single exposure to a train of intense electrical field pulses of nanosecond duration can timulate the rate of cell proliferation in mammalian cell cultures in vitro.