Ion-Exchange Resins as Potential Phosphate-Binding Agents for Renal Failure Patients: Effect of the Physicochemical Properties of Resins on Phosphate and Bile Salt Binding

The effect of resin type, degree of cross-linking, bead size, and surface area on the phosphate and bile salt binding characteristics of five strongly basic Dowex anion-exchange resins in the chloride form was studied. The maximum uptake of phosphate (expressed as uptake of phosphorus) from sodium phosphate solutions was 137, 82, 86, 138, and 76 mg of phosphorus per gram of dry Dowex resins XF 43311, XY 40013, XF 43254, XY 40011, and XY 40012, respectively. The presence of simulated gastric or intestinal fluids resulted in small but insignificant alterations in phosphorus uptake by the resins. The resins all bound similar amounts of phosphorus and taurocholate (80–100% of the total phosphorus and taurocholate in solution) at physiological concentrations of phosphate and bile salt. Dowex resins XY 40013 and XF 43254, with identical physicochemical properties, but different bead sizes and surface areas, bound similar amounts of the bile salt sodium taurocholate at all taurocholate concentrations, indicating that binding was not restricted to the surface sites on the resin bead. The 2% cross-linked resins bound 3–4 times more taurocholate than the 8% cross-linked resins (at high taurocholate concentrations); the smaller pore size of the latter resins probably presents a greater mechanical exclusion barrier than the larger pore size of the 2% cross-linked resins.