Cell biology/biochemistry quandary

[diewlasing]

If you have a phosphate buffered saline, you can suspend erythrocytes in it for a few minutes. But, for the sake of argument, can one as ionic compounds to the the PBS, like CsF, will it combine to form new compounds and cross the cell membrane. Or will it dissociate and stay in solution as ions? Obviously biology/biochemistry is not my forte.

-Thanks

 

[Ygggdrasil]

The cell membrane is impermeable to most ions. As long as Cs⁺ and F^- cannot enter the erythrocyte through some ion channel, they should not enter the cell.

 

[diewlasing]

right, but will they form compounds with the phosphate or others in solution or will they remain free ions?