Radiopaque poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) particles containing silver iodide complexes tested on cell culture.

Silver iodide complexes have been used as an effective radiopacifying agent to prepare radiopaque poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)) particles. Incorporation of silver iodide complexes inside the poly(HEMA) particles was achieved by first swelling particles in potassium iodide solution and precipitating the silver iodide complexes using a 30 wt% solution of silver nitrate. The dry particles contained 15 wt% of silver iodide complexes. Particles were easily monitored using a standard imaging technique based on X-ray absorption. Toxicity of the particles has been determined in in vitro experiments on a cell culture. As no inhibition of growth of cells surrounding the particles was observed, they can be considered non-toxic.