The frequency-dependent effects of low-intensity ultrasound exposure on human colon carcinoma cells

Previous studies have established a correlative relationship between the acoustic properties of normal and malignant epithelial cells in response to high-frequency ultrasound exposure, indicating ultrasound’s value as a tool in modern non-invasive cancer detection. More recently, ultrasound exposure has been extended into therapeutic fields, manipulated in frequency and power to stress and destroy specific cancer cells based on their determined acoustic properties. The present study seeks to determine the frequency-dependence of low intensity ultrasound exposure on varying cell types, beginning with colon carcinoma cells. The cells were exposed to a single element unfocused piezoelectric transducer at energies of less than 3 W/cm2 and frequencies of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 MHz, and evaluated for cytotoxicity indicated by lack of cell adhesion before and after treatment. Comparison is also made to non-cancerous human colon epithelial cells. This project compares the frequency-dependent effects of low intensity ultrasound on cells of varying cancerous and non- cancerous lineages, especially highlighting the low-point threshold.