# WEB-034 — 18 GHz: tracking particles that enter neuron-like cells

Why this matters
The cell membrane controls what enters a cell. Here, microscopy followed particles that crossed it after 18 GHz exposure. The finding helps explain a continuing line of membrane research, although the surviving cells showed no significant impairment in the functions measured.

Id: WEB-034

Author: Tharushi Perera et al.

Full Authors: Palalle G Tharushi Perera; Denver P Linklater; Erim Kosyer; Rodney Croft; Elena P Ivanova

Year: 2022

Title: Localization of nanospheres in pheochromocytoma-like cells following exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields at 18 GHz

Journal: Royal Society open science

Citation: Palalle G Tharushi Perera; Denver P Linklater; Erim Kosyer; Rodney Croft; Elena P Ivanova. Localization of nanospheres in pheochromocytoma-like cells following exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields at 18 GHz. Royal Society open science. 2022. doi:10.1098/rsos.220520.

Doi: 10.1098/rsos.220520

Pmid: 35774138

Topic: 18 GHz cellular experiments; Membrane permeability; Intracellular particle uptake

Verification Group: Original text reviewed

Record Role: Original text reviewed

Featured: False

Exposure: 18 GHz; three 30 s exposures separated by 2 min cooling; reported SAR 1.17 kW/kg; sample temperature below 37°C.

Design: PC12 neuron-like cells; fluorescence/electron microscopy and elemental analysis; non-exposed controls.

Finding: Gold/silica nanospheres were found inside exposed cells, including cytoplasm and vesicles; controls showed no internalisation. Proliferation, morphology and differentiation were not significantly impaired.

Statistics: See the original results; effect sizes were not independently recalculated.

Boundary: High absorbed power and specialised particle-delivery conditions. This is a membrane-interaction finding, not demonstrated neuronal injury or a satellite-system experiment.

Related: RMIT/Swinburne membrane programme, with WEB-026, WEB-027, the GUV study and 2024 bacterial transformation work. Related publication records: WEB-036, WEB-035, WEB-037.

Protection Question: Which exposure conditions reproduce this finding, and what would establish its relevance beyond the experimental model?

Access: Original methods/results and interpretation reviewed; raw data and supplements were not independently audited.

Locator: Original methods and results

Notice: Linked Europe PMC/PubMed notice fields checked 21 October 2026; no correction/retraction surfaced for this record. Publisher/citation screening is not exhaustive.

Funding: Reported funder(s): NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research. Grant identifiers: CRE1042464, CRE1135076.

Conflicts: Authors report no competing interests/conflicts; declaration checked, not independently audited.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220520

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220520 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35774138/ | https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9240668/

Verification Date: 2026-10-21

Discovery Id: TARGETED-20261021-07

Technology Tracks: satellite

Technology Connection: 18 GHz overlaps frequencies used for some satellite links. This is a laboratory membrane experiment, with different intensity, geometry and waveform from satellite exposure.

Publication Type: Original journal research

Study Setting: Cells / isolated tissue

Browse Categories: cells