Compositions of iodophenyl esters and iodophenyl sulfonates in film-forming materials for visualization of the gastronintestinal tract

Claim 1

An x-ray contrast composition designed for depositing a thin, flexible film membrane onto the mucosal lining of the nutrient absorbing inner surface of the intestine of a patient to form a barrier between said nutrient absorbing inner surface and the content of said intestine, said flexible film membrane to remain bound to said mucosal lining until eliminated by normal cell turnover comprising based on w/v: (a) of from about 0.1 to about 15% of a polymeric material capable of forming a film membrane on the gastrointestinal tract in the pH range of from about 5 to about 8, said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of anionic polymers carrying negative charges in the ionized form, cationic polymers carrying positive charges in the ionized form, and neutral polymers, said neutral polymers having polarizable electrons selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide; in combination with (b) of from about 0.1 to about 15% of a divalent cation to potentiate the binding of said flexible film membrane to said mucosal lining selected from the group consisting of Ca ++ , Mg ++ , Zn ++ and Ba ++ ; and (c) of from about 0.001 to about 75% of an x-ray contrast producing agent having the formula, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof ##STR25## wherein X is ##STR26## Z is H, halo, C 5 -C 20 alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkoxy, cyano, where the alkyl and cycloalkyl groups can be substituted with halogen or halo-lower-alkyl groups; R is C 1 -C 25 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl each of which may be optionally substituted with lower-alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxy or lower-alkoxy carbonyl, lower-alkenyl, lower-alkynyl, lower-alkylene or lower-alkoxy-carbonyloxy, n is 1-5; y is 0-4; and w is 1-4 in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.