Electrotaxis, also known as galvanotaxis, is the directed motion of biological cells or organisms guided by an electric field or current.[1] The directed motion of electrotaxis can take many forms, such as; growth, development, active swimming, and passive migration.[1][2] A wide variety of biological cells can naturally sense and follow DC electric fields. Such electric fields arise naturally in biological tissues during development and healing.[3][4] These and other observations have led to research into how applied electric fields can impact wound healing[5][6][7] An increase in wound healing rate is regularly observed and this is thought to be due to the cell migration and other signaling pathways that are activated by the electric field.[8] Additional research has been conducted into how applied electric fields impact cancer metastasis, morphogenesis, neuron guidance, motility of pathogenic bacteria, biofilm formation, and many other biological phenomena.[2][9][10][11]
^ abCortese, Barbara; Palamà, Ilaria Elena; D'Amone, Stefania; Gigli, Giuseppe (2014). "Influence of electrotaxis on cell behaviour". Integrative Biology. 6 (9): 817–830. doi:10.1039/c4ib00142g. PMID25058796.
^Carley, PJ; Wainapel, SF (July 1985). "Electrotherapy for acceleration of wound healing: low intensity direct current". Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 66 (7): 443–6. PMID3893385.
^Gault, Walter R.; Gatens, Paul F. (1 March 1976). "Use of Low Intensity Direct Current in Management of Ischemic Skin Ulcers". Physical Therapy. 56 (3): 265–269. doi:10.1093/ptj/56.3.265. PMID1083031.
^Sven Olof Wikström, Paul Svedman, h; Svedman, P.; Svensson, H.; Tanweer, A. S. (January 1999). "Effect of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation on Microcirculation in Intact Skin and Blister Wounds in Healthy Volunteers". Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery. 33 (2): 195–201. doi:10.1080/02844319950159451. PMID10450577.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Yan, Xiaolong; Han, Jing; Zhang, Zhipei; Wang, Jian; Cheng, Qingshu; Gao, Kunxiang; Ni, Yunfeng; Wang, Yunjie (January 2009). "Lung cancer A549 cells migrate directionally in DC electric fields with polarized and activated EGFRs". Bioelectromagnetics. 30 (1): 29–35. doi:10.1002/bem.20436. PMID18618607. S2CID29927118.
^McCaig, Colin D.; Rajnicek, Ann M.; Song, Bing; Zhao, Min (July 2005). "Controlling Cell Behavior Electrically: Current Views and Future Potential". Physiological Reviews. 85 (3): 943–978. doi:10.1152/physrev.00020.2004. PMID15987799.