Alternative membrane procedures

B. Alternative oxygenation procedures using polymer membranes... 

Over the years a numbo of alternative test systems have been described in the literature. These include the use of tissue culture, excised animal organs, bactoial systems, computer modeling, protozoan mortality inhibition, chorioallantoic membrane inflammation, and specific biochemical reactions [23]. Most of these alternative test procedures have been proposed or developed with the objective of reducing or replacing animal LDjg toxicity tests and the controversial Draize rabbit eye irritancy test [24]. 

Tests should also be done in the presenee of organic matter (e.g. albumin) and in hard water. It is important to remember when performing viable counts that care must be taken to ensure that, at the moment of sampling, the disinfection process is immediately arrested by the use of a suitable neutralizer or ensuring inactivation by dilution (Table 11.4). Membrane filtration is an alternative procedure, the principle of whieh is that treated cells are retained on the filter whilst the disinfectant forms the filtrate. After washing in situ, the membrane is transferred to the surface of a solid (agar) reeoveiy medium and the eolonies that develop on the membrane are counted. 

In some instances, flow cytometry assays are a superior alternative to conventional procedures for the determination of equilibrium binding constants (Stein et al., 2001). In contrast to assays that employ radiolabelled ligands, which measure population mean values for binding constants, flow cytometry methods can measure those values in individual cells, revealing heterogeneity in receptor expression within a population of cells or membrane vesicles. Furthermore, small samples can be characterized in a short period of time (hours). This approach to receptor-binding analysis may be limited only by the availability of a properly characterized fluorescent ligand. 

Membrane extraction offers attractive alternatives to conventional solvent extraction through the use of dialysis or ultrafiltration procedures (41). The choice of the right membrane depends on a number of parameters such as tlie degree of retention of the analyte, flow rate, some environmental characteristics, and tlie analyte recovery. Many early methods used flat, supported membranes, but recent membrane technology has focused on the use of hollow fibers (42-45). Although most membranes are made of inert polymers, undesired adsorption of analytes onto the membrane surface may be observed, especially in dilute solutions and when certain buffer systems are applied. 

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