USE OF ION BINDING LIGANDS ATTACHED TO SOLID SUPPORTS AND MEMBRANES FOR ION REMOVAL FROM A BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention provides methods for removing species of ions from biological solutions, thereby allowing controlled study of the biological effect of one or more ion on a biological system or environment. In general, a solution from which one or more ion species are to be removed is contacted with an ion binding ligand having an affinity for the desired ion wherein the ligand is bound to a substrate such as a solid support or membrane. After the ions have been bound by the ligand-substrate composition, the composition having the ions bound thereto is removed, leaving a solution with a reduced concentration of the one or more ions which were targeted. The biological solution may then be compared to a control biological solution in its original state, or ions may added back into the depleted biological solution at known concentrations. under either scenario, the biological effects of one or more ions may be studied.