Iothalamic Acid

Abstract: Dye dilution measurements of renal blood flow were made before and immediately following selective injections (0.3 ml/kg) of contrast media into the renal artery of anesthetized dogs. The materials studied were 50% sodium diatrizoate, 60% meglumine diatrizoate and 60% meglumine iothalamate. NaCl solutions served as isotonic (0.9%) and hypertonic controls (4.5%). The data show a transient 10 to 20% decrease in renal blood flow after each of the contrast media and 4.5% NaCl, whereas physiologic saline produced no significant change. Aortic and renal artery pressure did not change significantly. It is concluded that injection of a hypertonic solution into the renal artery is sufficient to cause a lowering of renal blood flow. The bolus effect, sodium content and pH of the injected agents were eliminated as major determinants of this phenomenon. The extent to which the N-methylglucamine cation and the organic triiodinated molecule contributed to the response was not established. Measurements of appearance time and mean transit time revealed no evidence of major intrarenal shunting.

Abstract: Highly porous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) microspheres prepared by suspension polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in presence of polymeric diluents such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in toluene and poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) were made radiopaque by esterification of the reactive hydroxyl groups with iothalamic acid and iopanoic acid, two radiopaque substances clinically used. Of the various solvents and catalysts examined, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N'-dimethyl paratoluidine (DMPT) were found to be best for obtaining a high degree of conversion. More than 30 wt% iodine could be bound to the microspheres which made them sufficiently radiopaque to be imaged radiographically. Microspheres retained their porosity, swelling ability, hydrophilicity, and surface morphology to a significant extent after iodination. Preliminary implantation studies of such microspheres subcutaneously in rats have shown no adverse tissue reactions over a 6-month period. It is suggested that these microspheres would prove to be useful as particulate emboli in endovascular embolization.

Abstract: Triiodophenol and iothalamic acid (5-acetamido-2,4,6-triio-N-methyl isophthalamic acid) were converted to their acrylic derivatives by esterfication with methacryloyl chloride and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), respectively. The monomers due to presence of heavy iodine atoms were expected to be radiopaque in nature. The monomers were characterized using TLC, IR, and 1 H-NMR spectroscopy. Both monomers were highly resistant to homopolymerization and copolymerization with other acrylic monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) or HEMA by initiators such as 2,2'-azobis isobutyronitriie (AIBN) or benzoyl peroxide (BPO) yielding only polymers of low molecular weight. The polymers obtained were charactrized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The resistance to polymerization is presumably due to the presence of bulky iodine atoms in the monomers sterically hindering the propagation step. The decomposition temperatures of the homopolymers and copolymers were close to 300°. Copolymers of HEMA with both radiopaque monomers incorporated to the extent of 25 wt % in the feed, however, produced polymers with good radiopacity. Copolymers with HEMA were also prepared in the form of microspheres by a solvent evaporation method with the aim of using them as particles in therapeutic embolization. While the polymer based on triiodophenol was found to cause extensive blood haemolysis in in vitro tests, polymer based on iothalamic acid was found to be nonhemolytic in character suggesting that copolymers based on iothalamic acid would be suitable for implantation in the living tissue.