Tohsak l. Mahaworasilpa BSc CU, MSc, PhD UNSW Senior Research Associate Department UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology

Research Interests

Tohsak is interested in the mechanics of living cells (5 to 30 mm in diameter) in intense alternating (AC) electric fields and electrical cell fusion for the production of human hybridoma. The study of the effects of AC fields on biological cells allows the research team to understand the behaviour, physical and electrical properties, and electrical breakdown of the plasma membranes of the cells. As a consequence, the knowledge from the study allows them to manipulate individual biological cells in cell suspension and leads them to achieve binary cell fusion of a cancer cell and a human B lymphocyte for the production of human monoclonal antibody which can be used for medical treatment of some virally-infected diseases. Also Tohsak is interested in producing plant hybrids from two different species of plants using the electrical cell fusion technology developed at the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology (UNESCO CMST) at The University of New South Wales.

Selected Publications

• CT Vertebral Bone Mineral Measurement - Intrinsic Errors of Single KV. T. Mahaworasilpa and F.C. Southon, Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine, 9(1), 23-28 (1986).
• Forces on Biological Cells due to Applied Alternating (AC) Electric Fields. (I) Dielectrophoresis. T.L. Mahaworasilpa, H.G.L. Coster and E.P. George, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1193, 118-126 (1994).
• Electrofusion of in vitro produced bovine embryonic cells for the production of isofusion contours for cells used in nuclear transfer. B.G. Tatham, D.A. Pushett, K.J. Giliam, A.T. Dowsing, T.L. Mahaworasilpa and A.O. Trounson, J. Reproduction and Fertility Supplement, 49, 549-553 (1995).
• Forces on Biological Cells due to Applied Alternating (AC) Electric Fields. (II) Electro-rotation. T.L. Mahaworasilpa, H.G.L. Coster and E.P. George, Biochim. Biophys. Acta , 1281, 5-14 (1996).
• Influence of Electrical Treatment and Fusion on early Regeneration Capacity of Sunflower Protoplasts in very Low Density Culture. A. von Keller, H. Schnabl, H.G.L. Coster and T.L. Mahaworasilpa, Plant Science , 126, 79-86 (1997).
• AC Electric Field Frequencies for Isolating Five Marine Phytoplanktons. S. Jutiporn, P. Wanichapichart, H.G.L. Coster and T. Mahaworasilpa. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol., 21(2), 213-219 (1999).

Contact Details 

Mail Address

School of Physics
The University of New South Wales
SYDNEY 2052
Australia

Email Address

tohsak@unsw.edu.au

Phone Number

61 2 9385 4486

Facsimile Number

61 2 9385 6060