Electro-biosorptive accumulation for use in enhanced detection of fluorogenic tracers and the removal of toxic entities from dilute solutions

An accumulating process based on electric field-assisted biosorption is described to facilitate the accumulation and enhanced detection of organic fluorogenic marker species in aqueous solution. Fluorescein was detected at concentrations as low as 0.6 mu g l(-1). Using a mammalian cell-based bioassay, we demonstrate the use of the system to remove the toxic effects of species such as ethidium bromide and doxorubicin from complex solutions such as tissue culture medium. The use of such a system for the detection and removal of trace contaminants is discussed.