Lipophilic X-ray contrast agents diatrizoyl double esters with cholesterol and cholic acid

Abstract

Potential biodegradable and organ-specific X-ray contrast agents have been prepared by linking diatrizoic acid to cholesterol and cholic acid, respectively, via a spacer group containing a carbonate double ester. In vitro experiments revealed that the cholic acid esters were enzymatically degraded in the presence of pig liver esterase, while the double esters with cholesterol appeared to be stable, possibly due to low solubility in water.