Technological development in Therapeutic applications of alternating electric fields: Review

Abstract

A number of bacteria, virus and other unhealthy cells need to be killed for getting rid of them. For more than a century antibiotics have been effectively used for killing bacterial pathogens and chemical drugs against the cancer cells. However, there are bacteria and cancer cells that are drug resistant. This may have to be overcome by other stronger drugs, higher dosage. These can have detrimental side effects. Other non drug methods to aid the effect of these drugs have always been in research. Electrochemotherapy, a method of using electric fields along with the drug to be used topically has been one of the successful approaches. One of the most recent methods of Tumor Treating Frequencies (TTF) for a brain cancer has been FDA approved. This article details the use of TTF. The article also details some other latest research where alternating fields are used as antibacterial agents.