Abstract: Samples of trace substances are cryogenically concentrated by passing a gas sample through a U-bend immersed in liquid nitrogen. The U-bend is surrounded by a chamber wall and the chamber is vented so that liquid nitrogen can rise into the chamber when the vent is open but is driven out when the vent is closed and the enrichment pipe is heated to desorb the accumulated trace substances from the adsorbent in the enrichment pipe.

Abstract: A method and adsorption medium for isolating and purifying enzymes from a crude enzyme solution of animal organs or tissues. An adsorption medium for bringing about the binding of a predetermined enzyme is introduced into the crude enzyme solution and is left therein until the binding takes place, whereupon the adsorption medium is removed from the crude enzyme solution and the enzyme is separated from the adsorption medium by extraction or elution with a suitable solution. The adsorption medium is in the form of membranes of human or animal erythrocytes which have been hemolyzed by osmosis. Those enzymes which have the same or nearly the same affinity as regards binding on the membranes as does the predetermined enzyme which is to be bound are separated from the membranes prior to introducing the membranes into the crude enzyme solution. The amount of the enzymes first removed that is bound being less than the amount of erythrocytes used to form the membranes.

Abstract: A mass, and method of preparing such mass, and using the same for adsorbing metal ions from a physiological solution by means of living cells suspended in the solution. The cells suspended in the solution at a density of up to 20% by weight are exposed to an electric field of such intensity and over such a period of time that the membrane of the cells will be so changed that substances present in the interior of the cells and having a diameter within the range of from 2 to 50 A, such as potassium and proteins, pass from the interior of the cells into the physiological solution. The electric force or intensity is limited in such a way that the changes in the membrane of the cells can be healed by regeneration of the cells. The mass is introduced into the aqueous solution, such as sea water, lake water or waste water, and left therein until the mass as adsorbed therefrom the metal at a desired concentration, whereupon the mass is separated from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: Loaded cells suspended in a physiological solution are prepared in a process in which their volume is expanded by osmotic pressure. Cells so prepared suspended in a physiological solution, when injected into the bloodstream of a living body are preferentially accumulated in the spleen and liver of the body, which treats them as foreign bodies, even though the original cells may have been cells of an animal of the same species. Similarly by storing the loaded cells in a solution containing substances such as glutadialdehyde, formaldehyde that react with the protein phase of membranes or which, like difluoro dinitrobenzene, react with the lipid layer thereof, the loaded cells can also be caused to be broken down by the spleen and/or liver. Premature release of the contents of the loaded cells is prevented and timely release of such contents is assured by incorporating other materials into the loaded cells during the preparation process in accordance with the related application of the same inventors, Ser. No.

Abstract: Magnetic substances in particles of a diameter in the range between 1 and 20 nm are suspended in the physiological solution by which cells are loaded with materials when their cell membranes have increased permeability, the magnetic materials being provided in such dosing, that when the cells are loaded, separated from the loading solution and prepared for use in a fresh physiological solution, thereafter injected to a living body, they can be collected and held fast at a predetermined location, for example, at the location of a tumor, by the effect of an external magnetic field. Ferritin, magnetite, cobalt ferrite, nickel ferrite and other ferrimagnetic, ferromagnetic or even paramagnetic compounds can be incorporated into loaded cells for this purpose.

Abstract: A material capable of forming hydrogen bonds or covalent bonds with loading materials incorporated in loaded cells is introduced into the cells with the loading materials to inhibit the destruction of the cell membranes by the loading material after the permeability of the membranes is brought back down to its normal value. In order to provide for the hydrogen bond formation with common loading materials, such as methotrexate, proteins such as albumin and sugars such as sucrose are effective. The time period during which these materials inhibit a destructive effect on the membranes of loaded cells is well defined.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for determining the dielectric breakdown chateristics and size of membrane-sheathed particles such as living-organism cells and the apparent size of such particles after breakdown of the membrane, makes use of two measuring orifices traversed by an electrolyte across which an increasing electric field is applied during the measuring process in which the particles successively traverse one of the orifices. The current through the measuring orifice deviates from the linear with increasing field generated preferably by a sawtooth voltage, the current change being used to measure the particle variables stated.

Abstract: A device for increasing the permeability of the skin of cells of living bgs, according to which the respective cells are introduced in the form of a suspension into an electrically conductive liquid thereby there is formed a physiological electrolyte solution which is passed into one of two chambers through a passage of a partition. This partition separates a container into these two chambers, each chamber having an electrode. This passage surrounds the focus of an electric field. The cells in the electrolyte solution are exposed to the electric field while passing from one chamber to the other chamber until macromolecules having a radius of at least 5.degree. are exchanged through the cell skin between the solution in the interior of the cells and the physiological electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A method of and device for increasing the permeability of the skin of cells f living beings, according to which the respective cells are introduced in the form of a suspension into an electrically conductive liquid. Thereby there is formed a physiological electrolyte solution which is passed into one of two chambers through a passage of a partition. This partition separates a container into these two chambers, each chamber having an electrode. This passage surrounds the focus of an electric field. The cells in the electrolyte solution are exposed to the electric field while passing from one chamber to the other chamber until macromolecules having a radius of at least 5 A are exchanged through the cell skin between the solution in the interior of the cells and the physiological electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A method of and device for ascertaining elastic and di-electric properties f the diaphragm of individual living cells of living beings or of the diaphragms of such living cells in a physiological liquid in suspension or of such living cells in an association in the form of a layer. One or more of such cells or one or more layers of such cells is or are introduced into a physiological liquid which has a temperature of between 0.degree. and 40.degree. C and which is electrically conductive and forms an electrolyte solution. The cell, cells or layer of cells are located between two electrodes in such a way that the flow lines of an electric field provided between the two electrodes penetrate the diaphragm of the cell, cells or layer of cells introduced into the electrolyte solution. Thereupon a succession of voltage pulses with a constant pulse duration of from 1 .mu.