Compositions of iodophenoxy alkylene ethers in film-formin materials for visualization of the gastrointestinal tract

X-ray contrast compsn. is designed for depositing a thin, flexible film membrane onto the mucosal lining of the nutrient absorbing surface of the intestine of a patient to form a barrier between the nutrient absorbing inner surface and the contents of the intestine. The flexible film membrane remains bound to the mucosal lining until eliminated by normal cell turnover. The compsn. comprises (w/v): (a) 0.001-15% of a polymeric material capable of forming a film membrane on the gastrointestinal tract at pH 5-8, the polymeric material being selected from anionic polymers carrying negative charges in the ionised form, cationic polymers carrying positive charges in the ionised form and neutral polymers having atoms contg. polarisable electrons selected from O, N, S, F, Cl, Br and I. (b) 0.001-15% of a divalent cation to potentiate the binding of the flexible film membrane to the mucosal lining selected from Ca(2+), Mg(2+). Zn(2+) and Ba(2+) and (c) 0.001-75% of an X-ray contrast producing agent of formula (I) or their salts in an aq. carrier. In (I), Z=H, halo, 1-20C alkyl, cycloalkyl, lower alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl or CN, where the alkyl and cycloalkyl gps. can be substd. with halo or halo-lower alkyl; R=1-25C alkyl, cycloalkyl, halo-lower alkyl or gp. of formula (i), each opt. substd. with halo, fluoro lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl or lower alkoxycarbonyloxy; or (CR1R2)p-(CR3=CR4)mQ or (CR1R2)p-CC-Q; R1-R4=H or lower alkyl opt. substd. with halo; x=1-4; n=1-4; m=1-15; p=1-20; Q=H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower alkylene, aryl or aryl-lower alkyl.