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Electromagnetic communication between cells through tunneling nanotubes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2020

Jan Pokorný Open the ORCID record for Jan Pokorný [Opens in a new window] ,
Jiří Pokorný  and
Jan Vrba
Jan Pokorný*
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Jiří Pokorný
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
Jan Vrba
Affiliation:
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Technická 2, 166 27 Prague 6, Czech Republic
*
Author for correspondence: Jan Pokorný, E-mail: pokorny@fzu.cz
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Abstract

Structures of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) of the circular cross-section of 50 and 200 nm and length up to 1 mm form a communication system between cells. While transport of material such as endocytic vesicles, mitochondria, proteins, cytoplasmic molecules, etc., is experimentally proven, a possible transfer of electric and electromagnetic energy across TNTs corresponding to electrotechnical processes of excitation, propagation, and amplification in cavity systems is yet in a beginning stage of research. The ideas presented in this paper are based on technical mechanisms applied to submicroscopic systems. Main features of corrugated periodic structures, electromagnetic circular waveguides, the Manley–Rowe amplification, the Fröhlich non-linear interaction of coherent electric polar vibrations, and description of cut-off frequency propagating limits in the waveguide and cavities and along periodic structures are discussed. We suggest that cell-to-cell connection with TNTs may form a unified coherent cavity system which enables simultaneity and mutual cooperation in multicellular organisms.

Keywords

waveguides and resonators in living cellstunneling nanotubes (TNTs)electromagnetic cell-to-cell communicationUV technology in living cells
Type
Research Paper
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 12 , Special Issue 9: EuMCE 2019 Special Issue (Part I) , November 2020 , pp. 831 - 838
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2020

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