The Role of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on the Radical Pair Mechanism

Abstract

The Role of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on the Radical Pair Mechanism Pablo Castello, Pablo Jimenez, Carlos F Martino. The Role of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on the Radical Pair Mechanism. Bioelectromagnetics. 2021 Jul 5. doi: 10.1002/bem.22358. Abstract In recent decades, the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) in therapeutics has been one of the main fields of activity in the bioelectromagnetics arena. Nevertheless, progress in this area has been hindered by the lack of consensus on a biophysical mechanism of interaction that can satisfactorily explain how low-level, non- thermal electromagnetic fields would be able to sufficiently affect chemistry as to elicit biological effects in living organisms. This specifically applies in cases where the induced electric fields are too small to generate a biological response of any consequence. A growing body of experimental observations that would explain the nature of these effects speaks strongly about the involvement of a theory known as the radical pair mechanism (RPM). This mechanism explains how a pair of reactive oxygen species with distinct chemical fate can be influenced by a low-level external magnetic field through Zeeman and hyperfine interactions. So far, a study of the effects of complex spatiotemporal signals within the context of the RPM has not been performed. Here, we present a computational investigation of such effects by utilizing a generic PEMF test signal and RPM models of different complexity. Surprisingly, our results show how substantially different chemical results can be obtained within ranges that depend on the specific orientation of the PEMF test signal with respect to the background static magnetic field, its waveform, and both of their amplitudes. These results provide a basis for explaining the distinctive biological relevance of PEMF signals on radical pair chemical reactions. Conclusion Experimental observations speak strongly for the involvement of the radical pair mechanism in biological systems. For this purpose, we computationally studied whether a pulse train waveform can change the quantum singlet yields in a radical pair reaction. For a simple radical pair model, we demonstrated that the suggested reaction can be influenced by PEMFs. This conclusion does not rule out the possibility of induced electric field effects stemming from PEMFs. However, experimental evidence suggests controversial results with the use of PEMFs that cannot be explained by the accepted mechanism of action [Barnes and Greenebaum, 2018]. Our study establishes the role of PEMF as a diagnostic tool that may indicate the involvement of magneto-sensitive radical pair reactions in biological systems. Extending this tool to determine orientation and amplitude dependence in which the input PEMF waveforms affect the reaction products can reveal the chemical nature of the radical pairs involved. Finally, using the oscillating or PEMF input waveform as a diagnostic tool to modify singlet quantum yields can easily be transferred to finding the optimal control to maximize the singlet yield. At the most fundamental level, one could investigate how a radical reaction can be controlled by perturbing spin interconversion to maximize a cost functional, the quantum singlet yield, through the selection of optimal control functions, namely the magnetic waveform. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Computational modeling using a generic PEMF test signal and radical pair mechanism (RPM) models suggested that substantially different chemical outcomes (including singlet yields) can occur depending on PEMF orientation relative to a background static magnetic field, waveform, and amplitudes. In a simple radical pair model, the reaction was reported to be influenceable by PEMFs.

Outcomes measured

• Quantum singlet yield in radical pair reactions
• Chemical reaction product/yield changes under PEMF
• Dependence of radical pair mechanism outcomes on PEMF orientation, waveform, and amplitude relative to static magnetic field

Limitations

• Computational investigation; no experimental validation described in the abstract
• Uses a generic PEMF test signal; specific real-world exposure parameters (frequency, intensity, duration) not provided
• Findings depend on model complexity and assumed orientation/waveform/amplitude conditions

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    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Quantum singlet yield in radical pair reactions",
        "Chemical reaction product/yield changes under PEMF",
        "Dependence of radical pair mechanism outcomes on PEMF orientation, waveform, and amplitude relative to static magnetic field"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Computational modeling using a generic PEMF test signal and radical pair mechanism (RPM) models suggested that substantially different chemical outcomes (including singlet yields) can occur depending on PEMF orientation relative to a background static magnetic field, waveform, and amplitudes. In a simple radical pair model, the reaction was reported to be influenceable by PEMFs.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Computational investigation; no experimental validation described in the abstract",
        "Uses a generic PEMF test signal; specific real-world exposure parameters (frequency, intensity, duration) not provided",
        "Findings depend on model complexity and assumed orientation/waveform/amplitude conditions"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "pulsed electromagnetic fields",
        "PEMF",
        "radical pair mechanism",
        "RPM",
        "Zeeman interaction",
        "hyperfine interaction",
        "reactive oxygen species",
        "singlet yield",
        "computational modeling",
        "magnetosensitivity",
        "static magnetic field",
        "waveform",
        "orientation dependence",
        "amplitude dependence"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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