Monica Pellegrino

Mixed Quantum-Classical Methods for Molecular Simulations of Biochemical Reactions With Microwave Fields: The Case Study of Myoglobin

Contradictory data in the huge literature on microwaves bio-effects may result from a poor understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between microwaves and biological systems. Molecular simulations of biochemical processes seem to be a promising tool to comprehend microwave induced bio-effects. Molecular simulations of classical and quantum events involved in relevant biochemical processes enable to follow the dynamic evolution of a biochemical reaction in the presence of microwave fields. In this paper, the action of a microwave signal (1 GHz) on the covalent binding process of a ligand (carbon monoxide) to a protein (myoglobin) has been studied. Our results indicate that microwave fields, with intensities much below the atomic/molecular electric interactions, cannot affect such biochemical process.

A coplanar-waveguide system for cells exposure during electrophysiological recordings

In order to investigate the biological effects of microwave electromagnetic fields as those emitted from mobile telecommunications equipment, a suitable exposure system has been designed. The system is specific for real time acquisition of cellular membrane ionic currents, i.e. patch-clamp recordings. Both the numerical and the experimental characterization of the system is considered, in terms of EM field distribution and SAR inside the Petri dish containing the biological target. Results show a good efficiency of the system in terms of SAR induced in the sample by incident input power.

A Real-Time Exposure System for Electrophysiological Recording in Brain Slices

In order to study possible effects of microwave electromagnetic (EM) fields on neuronal activity, a real-time exposure system was designed and fabricated. The structure is suitable for electrophysiological recording in brain slices, a widely used in vitro methodology for investigations on neuronal function. The EM features of the structure were characterized both numerically and experimentally. Results indicate that the system is slightly radiating and that its field configuration produces minimum coupling with laboratory equipment. To determine the device efficiency, numerical and experimental dosimetry was conducted. The system exhibits high efficiency, with uniform distribution of the E- and H-fields and the specific absorption rate (SAR) in the biological sample.