Biological interphases complexes

On the other hand, the presence of hydrophobic complexes is a prerequisite for partitioning and diffusion of metals into the lipid bilayer. In the following paragraphs, various types of metal complexes will be discussed, which are relevant to the interactions of metals in aquatic systems. The role of these various types of metal complexes with respect to interactions at the biological interphases will be systematically examined. 

In the following section, the role of the various types of complexes mentioned above will be discussed with regard to various mechanisms of interactions at biological interphases. It is clear that metal ions and hydrophilic complexes cannot distribute into the membrane lipid bilayer or cross it. The role of hydrophilic ligands has thus to be discussed in relation to binding of metals by biological ligands. In contrast, hydrophobic complexes may partition into the lipid bilayer of membranes (see below, Section 6). 

To describe the dynamics of metals at biological interphases in the presence of various ligands, the kinetics of dissociation of the complexes have to be taken into account in relation to the diffusion and to the uptake kinetics ([14] and Chapters 3 and 10 in this volume). Based on kinetic criteria, labile and inert complexes can be distinguished as limiting cases with regard to biological uptake ([14] and Chapter 3, this volume). 

INTERACTION OF HYDROPHOBIC METAL COMPLEXES AND ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS WITH BIOLOGICAL INTERPHASES... 

There is an abundant research on the interactions of HIOCs and metals with biological interphases, in which organic chemicals and metals are treated independently. However, few studies have considered the role of combinations of HIOCs with metals. There is a particular lack of mechanistic approaches. With regard to the metals, the FIAM has been very successful, but it remains to be shown under which conditions additional interactions, such as partitioning of hydrophobic complexes and uptake of specific complexes, are important for metal uptake and toxic effects. In particular, the role of hydrophobic complexes with both natural and pollutant compounds in natural waters has not yet been fully elucidated, since neither their abundance nor their behaviour at biological interphases are known in detail. 

Ion pairs are outer-sphere association complexes, which have to be clearly distinguished from the organometallic complexes discussed in Section 6. Ion pair formation appears to be much less important in biological membranes as compared with octanol, because the charge of the ions at the membrane interphase can be balanced by counter charge in the electrolyte in the adjacent aqueous phase. The reactions involved in ion pair formation are depicted in Figures 5b for acids and 5c for bases, and the equilibrium constant K ix is defined as follows ... 

Two examples of modern clean-up methods that use columns that have been prepared commercially are the Extube (Analytichem International) and the Sep-Pak (Waters). The Extube was designed to isolate drugs from a complex biological sample by the principle of liquid-liquid extraction. Samples to be analyzed, such as urine, whole blood or bile, are introduced into a disposable Extube, which is packed with an inert fibrous matrix of large surface area. When a suitable solvent is poured into the Extube, it interphases film-on-film with the sample. The compound of interest is extracted by a solvent that passes freely through the matrix, whereas impurities such as water, pigment, particulate matter and other polar components are retained by the matrix. The Extube has been used to extract and purify cortisol from plasma by liquid-liquid partition with methylene chloride [40]. The Sep-Pak... 

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