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Ion-Selective microelectrodes. Principles, design and application.
295
J. Electroanol. Chem., 223 (1987) 295-296 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The Netherlands
Book reviews
Ion-Selective Microelectrodes. Principles, Design and Application. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986, 346 pp., hardcover price DM158.00.
D. Ammann.
Insight into electrical events on a cellular level originated with the invention of reference microelectrodes (micropipettes) by Ling and Gerard in 1949. This experimental technique was subsequently expanded to microelectrode measurement of ion activities using glass electrodes and later of the second kind. Notable progress was achieved by Walker in 1971 with liquid-membrane ion-selective microelectrodes. A fundamental contribution to the field of ion-selective electrodes is connected with the introduction of ionophores (ion carriers), known from membrane biology as active substances of liquid membranes of ion-selective electrodes by the work of W. Simon and his co-workers from the Federal Polytechnic in Zurich. These systems have also found application in the microelectrode technique which is the subject of Dr. Amman’s book. Thus, the subject matter is somewhat restricted and does not correspond in full to the title of the book as, for example, the important Cll-selective microelectrodes are not dealt with here. On the other hand, the principles, properties and technical details of neutral-carrier-based systems are discussed in great depth, showing the enormous amount of experience collected by the Zurich school. The quality of the book is enhanced by excellent figures and informative tables. Readers interested both in the theory and in biological applications will use this book as a principal source of information on the subject. J. KORYTA Prague
Metal Ions in Biological Systems, Vol. 19. Antibiotics and Their Complexes. Siegel (Editor). Marcel Dekker, New York, 1985, 429 pp., US$102.00.
H.
In 1951 Berger and his co-workers found in the culture of a mould, a metabolite (later named nigericin) which was able to solubilize sodium and barium ions in non-polar solvents. Later a large group of similar substances, often with antibiotic properties, was described and the term “ionophore” was coined for them. The classic in this field, B.C. Pressman, deals with the discovery of these interesting complex-formers in Chapter 1. An electrochemist might have some doubts about the validity of the pH values in Fig. 2 (p. 5) where significance is
J. Electroanol. Chem., 223 (1987) 295-296 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The Netherlands
Book reviews
Ion-Selective Microelectrodes. Principles, Design and Application. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986, 346 pp., hardcover price DM158.00.
D. Ammann.
Insight into electrical events on a cellular level originated with the invention of reference microelectrodes (micropipettes) by Ling and Gerard in 1949. This experimental technique was subsequently expanded to microelectrode measurement of ion activities using glass electrodes and later of the second kind. Notable progress was achieved by Walker in 1971 with liquid-membrane ion-selective microelectrodes. A fundamental contribution to the field of ion-selective electrodes is connected with the introduction of ionophores (ion carriers), known from membrane biology as active substances of liquid membranes of ion-selective electrodes by the work of W. Simon and his co-workers from the Federal Polytechnic in Zurich. These systems have also found application in the microelectrode technique which is the subject of Dr. Amman’s book. Thus, the subject matter is somewhat restricted and does not correspond in full to the title of the book as, for example, the important Cll-selective microelectrodes are not dealt with here. On the other hand, the principles, properties and technical details of neutral-carrier-based systems are discussed in great depth, showing the enormous amount of experience collected by the Zurich school. The quality of the book is enhanced by excellent figures and informative tables. Readers interested both in the theory and in biological applications will use this book as a principal source of information on the subject. J. KORYTA Prague
Metal Ions in Biological Systems, Vol. 19. Antibiotics and Their Complexes. Siegel (Editor). Marcel Dekker, New York, 1985, 429 pp., US$102.00.
H.
In 1951 Berger and his co-workers found in the culture of a mould, a metabolite (later named nigericin) which was able to solubilize sodium and barium ions in non-polar solvents. Later a large group of similar substances, often with antibiotic properties, was described and the term “ionophore” was coined for them. The classic in this field, B.C. Pressman, deals with the discovery of these interesting complex-formers in Chapter 1. An electrochemist might have some doubts about the validity of the pH values in Fig. 2 (p. 5) where significance is