Galvanotaxis

**Galvanotaxis** is a phenomenon where electrical particles are used to control the movement of microscopic objects in a liquid or gaseous medium. This term was introduced by American physicist Robert Esslin in 1966. He suggested that ions move in an electric field, and their movement, in turn, is influenced by liquid molecules. The galvanotactic effect is due to the ability of ions to form temporary dipoles under the influence of an electric field. These dipoles interact with liquid molecules and direct the movement of the object.

**Mechanism of galvanotaxis:** - there is an electrostatic force acting between the surface and the ions of the liquid; - these ions can accumulate in a dielectric impurity; - this “impurity” acts on the carrier microparticle and causes it to move in the direction opposite to the direction of the field; - ionized particles of ionophilic nature do not affect larger particles, in particular cell sizes.