An increase in the negative surface charge of U937 cells exposed to a pulsed magnetic field.

Pulsed magnetic fields have been used to enhance healing of bone fractures and purportedly of lesions in soft tissue. However, their mechanism of action is poorly understood. We report changes in the plasma membrane of a nonadherent mammalian cell line, U937, which was exposed to a 25-pps magnetic field for 48 hours. Aqueous polymer two-phase partition studies showed that magnetic-field-exposed cells exhibited an increased negative surface charge but membrane hydrophobicity was not significantly altered. The observed increase in membrane electronegativity of exposed cells did not reflect a significant change in growth rate.