doc. Vitaliy Zablotskyy, DrSc.

My research lies at the intersection of Magnetism, Biophysics, Biomagnetism, and Magnetobiology. I investigate how magnetic fields influence biological systems, aiming to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind these effects and to predict new biological responses to magnetic field exposure.

Research areas and results

• Magnetic Modulation of Calcium Signaling
  We developed a theoretical model demonstrating how both time-varying and static gradient magnetic fields can modulate calcium ion channel activity and calcium signaling in endothelial cells.

Modulation of intracellular (left) and extracellular (right) calcium waves with a magnetic field, which generates mechanical stress on the cell membrane through a chain of BMNs. A low-frequency alternating magnetic field changes both the amplitude and frequency of calcium waves.

• Magnetic Field Interactions with Nanoparticles
  We proposed novel mechanisms by which magnetic fields influence endothelial and cancer cells, focusing on interactions with biogenic and synthetic magnetic nanoparticles present on cell membranes. Our models predict both individual and collective cellular responses to magnetic field exposure.

Frequency modulation of calcium waves and magnetic switching of metabolic pathways in endothelial cells is depicted with four frequency decoders shown: NF-kB, MAPK, NFAT, and Glycogen phosphorylase kinase (GPK).

• Magnetic Field Effects on Diabetic Models
  Prolonged exposure to high static magnetic fields (1.0–8.6 T, gradient >10 T/m) negatively impacts diabetic mice, particularly those with severe type 1 diabetes. In contrast, exposure to quasi-uniform 9.4 T static fields does not show adverse effects, offering important implications for future medical applications.

   

• Anti-Depressive Properties of Ultra-High Magnetic Fields
  We discovered that exposure to ultra-high static magnetic fields (11–33 T) improves mood and social behavior in mice. This effect is mediated by increased expression of c-Fos and oxytocin during exposure.

Magnetic field and happiness: Increase of the oxytocin in the mice brain.

• Noninvasive Cancer Treatment Potential of Magnetic Fields
  Low-frequency rotating magnetic fields (4 Hz) selectively disrupt F-actin structures in breast cancer cells, inhibiting metastasis while sparing normal cells. This points to a promising direction for targeted, noninvasive cancer therapies.

   

• Effects of Magnetic Fields on Cellular Diffusion and Membrane Potential
  High magnetic fields slow the diffusion of paramagnetic molecules in the cytoplasm, which may impact gas exchange in red blood cells and lead to cell swelling. We've also identified ways to modulate cellular activity via changes in membrane potential and magnetically assisted intracellular transport of large biomolecules.

Membrane potentials (in mV) for different cell types.

• Magnetic Field Effects on DNA Synthesis and Gene Expression
  We discovered a novel directional effect of static magnetic fields: upward-oriented 9.4 T fields alter DNA synthesis differently than downward fields, leading to asymmetrical cell proliferation. Notably, 24-hour upward field exposure suppressed A549 lung tumor growth in vivo.

Magnetogenetics roadmap.

• Permanent Magnets in Magnetic Medicine: Applications and Advances

Two interacting ring-shaped magnets: Vector field of magnetic field.

Distributions of the magnetic induction vector field (a), the magnetic induction magnitude (b), and the magnetic gradient magnitude (c) for a ring-shaped permanent magnet used in magnamosis. Magnetic Medicine, 2025, 100024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.magmed.2025.100024

Vice director of the International Magnetobiology Frontier Research Center (iMFRC), Science Island, Hefei, China

PIFI fellow:  China Academy of Sciences President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI).

Grants:  The Mobility Program budget of the Czech Academy of Sciences CAS-23-01.

Presentation