In vitro adsorption of bile salts by colestipol hydrochloride.

The acid-base titration of colestipol hydrochloride exhibits no sharp inflection points, indicating a weakly basic anion-exchange copolymer. The swelling of colestipol hydrochloride in water and the adsorption of cholate anion are inversely related to pH and are, therefore, related to the ionization state of the copolymer. The Langmuir adsorption parameters at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C are similar for cholate, glycocholate, and taurocholate anions. Adsorption capacity was not related to particle size and exceeded the adsorptive capacity of the external surface by three orders of magnitude. Therefore, it is believed that the swelling of colestipol hydrochloride makes extensive internal surface area available for adsorption of bile salts. The rate of adsorption depends on the concentration of sodium cholate to which the colestipol hydrochloride is exposed. Adsorption was complete within 5 min when the concentration was below the adsorptive capacity. In contrast, adsorption at levels of sodium cholate at or above the adsorptive capacity was not complete within a 3-hr test period.