A Novel Iron-Chelating Graft Copolymer

Deferoxamine B, liberated from its methane-sulfonate salt, has been linked to the chemically reactive polyacrolein to form polyacrolein-deferoximine (PADFI), whose structure may contain imino groups as well as N-acetal groups. Free aldehydes are still present in the polymer structure. The polyacrolein-deferoximine is stable in physiological saline solution for at least 24 hr. A sample of 0.3000 g of PADFI removes 40% of iron(III) from a 1.8 × 10−3M solution. The polymer, PADFI, is insoluble in most ordinary solvents, and it failed to dissolve completely in sulfur dioxide solution. Deferoxamine B attached to a polymer backbone may be useful as an insolubilized chelating agent for the extracorporeal treatment of severe iron poisoning.