Electrical suspension preparation

Extraction and purification of Diplocardia luciferase (Bellisario et al., 1972). About 50 specimens of Diplocardia longa (widespread in southern Georgia about 30 cm in length) were electrically stimulated in 250 ml of 0.1 M EDTA at 4°C to exude coelomic fluid. The suspension of coelomic cells obtained was centrifuged at 480 g for 5 min. The pellets from 200 worms were combined and an acetone powder was prepared. The acetone powder obtained (about 10 g) was stable at -80°C for at least one year. 

Several additional instrumental techniques have also been developed for bacterial characterization. Capillary electrophoresis of bacteria, which requires little sample preparation,42 is possible because most bacteria act as colloidal particles in suspension and can be separated by their electrical charge. Capillary electrophoresis provides information that may be useful for identification. Flow cytometry also can be used to identify and separate individual cells in a mixture.11,42 Infrared spectroscopy has been used to characterize bacteria caught on transparent filters.113 Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with linear discriminant analysis and artificial neural networks, has been adapted for identifying foodbome bacteria25,113 and pathogenic bacteria in the blood.5... 

Concerning drug delivery, electrically erodible polymer gels for controlled release of drugs have been prepared, and a measured release rate of insulin has been observed under electrical stimulus [69]. A suspension of zinc insulin in a mixed solution of poly(ethyloxazoline) and PMAA was formed into a gel by decreasing the pH of the suspension. The obtained complex gel with 0.5 wt% of insulin was attached to a woven platinum wire cathode which was 1 cm away from the anode and immersed in 0.9% saline solution. When a stepped function of electrical current of 5 mA was applied to the insulin-loaded gel matrix, insulin was released in a stepwise manner up to a release of 70%. The insulin rate measured was 0.10 mg/h. 

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