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Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid is a solid.

Pentetic acid occurs as a white crystalline solid and is almost odorless.

solid

chelating agent, diagnostic aid

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid is a component of manganese and zinc fertilizers.

ChEBI: Pentetic acid is a pentacarboxylic acid. It has a role as a copper chelator. It is a conjugate acid of a pentetate(1-).

Pentetic acid is a pentaacetic acid triamine formed during the preparation of the amino carboxylic acid and its salt.

Pentetic acid is mainly used as a chelating agent in the preparation of imaging and contrast agents for radionuclide and magnetic resonance imaging.It is also used as a carrier excipient for neutron-capture isotopes in, for example, radiotherapy.Pentetic acid–isotope complexes have also been considered as model active substances in scintigraphic imaging studies.Pentetic acid has been used to chelate metal ions to reduce formation of reactive oxygen species during lyophilization.

Pentetic acid is used in intrathecal and intravenous injection preparations. The pure form of pentetic acid is moderately toxic by the intraperitoneal route.
LD₅₀ (mouse, IP): 0.54 g/kg
LD₅₀ (mouse, oral): 4.84 g/kg

The activity of pentetic acid as a chelating agent may cause unwanted effects in formulations containing metal ions. The desired chelate may be displaced by other ions from the formulation.

Crystallise DTPA from water. Dry under vacuum or at 110o. [Bielski & Thomas J Am Chem Soc 109 7761 1987, NMR: Wenzel et al. Anal Chem 54 615 1982, Beilstein 4 IV 2454.]

The activity of pentetic acid as a chelating agent may cause unwanted effects in formulations containing metal ions. The desired chelate may be displaced by other ions from the formulation.

Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (intrathecal and intravenous injections). Included in intravenous and intra-articular injections licensed in the UK.