Synthesis of iodinated copolymers for medical purposes

Radiopaque materials have been used for variety of medical applications such as embolization process, preparation of implant, prosthesis and drug delivery; because they positioned by X-radiography easily[1,2].Usual polymers have low electron density and low specific gravity, why so they are made of atoms such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen; so these polymers are radiolucent to X-ray. Using heavy elements in the structure of polymers is a conventional method for preparation of radiopaque biomaterial. But, covalent binding of iodine atom to monomers or performed polymers has been achieved great attention. Iodinated moieties, is the most widely radiopacifying agents used for synthesis of radiopaque polymers [3]. In this work methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid were copolymerized and the copolymer was modified through reaction of carboxylic acid groups onthe main chain with4-iodophenyl isocyanate and 3,4,5-triiodophenyl isocyanate. Iodinated moieties were used as radiopacyfying agents; sothe modifiedcopolymers exhibited excellentradiopacity, whereas non-modified copolymer has no significant X-ray visibility. X-radiography was carried out on the iodinated copolymersand MTT assay was used for biocompatibility studies.