# WEB-037 — 18 GHz: membrane uptake in human and mouse cells

Why this matters
This separate research group also found that microwaves could help substances cross cell membranes. It tested several frequencies and traced uptake directly in living cells. The work strengthens the case for studying the interaction itself, while its specialised high-field conditions remain essential to interpretation.

Id: WEB-037

Author: Milden-Appel et al.

Full Authors: Manuela Milden-Appel; Markus Paravicini; Jannick P Milden; Martin Schüßler; Rolf Jakoby; M Cristina Cardoso

Year: 2024

Title: Uptake of substances into living mammalian cells by microwave induced perturbation of the plasma membrane

Journal: Scientific reports

Citation: Manuela Milden-Appel; Markus Paravicini; Jannick P Milden; Martin Schüßler; Rolf Jakoby; M Cristina Cardoso. Uptake of substances into living mammalian cells by microwave induced perturbation of the plasma membrane. Scientific reports. 2024. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-71401-7.

Doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-71401-7

Pmid: 39242794

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

Verification Group: Original text reviewed

Record Role: Original text reviewed

Featured: False

Exposure: 5.8, 10 and 18 GHz; typically 10 min, with 10–15 min delivery protocols; local fields approximately 30–150 V/cm in the survival comparison.

Design: HeLa and mouse C2C12 cells; coplanar-waveguide poration device, microscopy, survival and genotoxicity assays.

Finding: Substance uptake depended on frequency and field strength and was most efficient at 18 GHz. Dyes, peptides and antibody constructs entered cells.

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

Boundary: High local fields in a purpose-built transfection device. High survival under selected conditions and lack of a corresponding genotoxic signal must be retained; uptake alone is not injury.

Related: Separate Darmstadt group, citing the RMIT/Swinburne studies; not a replication of satellite exposure. Related publication records: WEB-034, WEB-035.

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: See original disclosure; funding details were not established in this check.

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

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71401-7

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71401-7 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39242794/ | https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11379910/

Verification Date: 2026-10-21

Discovery Id: TARGETED-20261021-10

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