| Polyvinylpyrrolidone | |
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Polyvinylpyrrolidone |
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Other names
PVP, Povidone, Polyvidone Poly[1-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylen] 1-Ethenyl-2-pyrrolidon homopolymer 1-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidinon-Polymere Copovidone PNVP |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 9003-39-8 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1201724 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | (C6H9NO)n |
| Molar mass | 2.500 - 2.5000.000 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | white to light yellow, hygroscopic, amorphous powder |
| Density | 1.2 g/cm³ |
| Melting point |
150 - 180 °C (glass temperature) |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), also commonly called Polyvidone or Povidone, is a water-soluble polymer made from the monomer N-vinylpyrrolidone:[1]
Contents |
PVP is soluble in water and other polar solvents. When dry it is a light flaky powder, which readily absorbs up to 40% of its weight in atmospheric water. In solution, it has excellent wetting properties and readily forms films. This makes it good as a coating or an additive to coatings. PVP is a branched polymer, that is its structure is more complicated than linear polymer but it too is in a two-dimensional plane. The structure of a polymer greatly depends on its integrity and strength, formed through cross-links and bonds. Firstly, composition of polymers takes place through polymerisation of mers, many simple molecules that are repeating structural units called monomers. A single polymer molecule may consist of hundreds to a million monomers and may have a linear, branched, or network structure. Covalent bonds hold the atoms in the polymer molecules together and secondary bonds then hold groups of polymer chains together to form the polymeric material. Copolymers are polymers composed of two or more different types of monomers.
PVP was first synthesized by Prof. Walter Reppe and a patent was filed in 1939 for one of the most interesting derivatives of acetylene chemistry. PVP was initially used as a blood plasma substitute and later in a wide variety of applications in medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics and industrial production.[2]
The monomer is extremely toxic to aquatic life.
The polymer PVP was used as a blood plasma expander for trauma victims after the 1950's.
It is used as a binder in many pharmaceutical tablets;[3] it simply passes through the body when taken orally. However, autopsies have found that crospovidone does contribute to pulmonary vascular injury in substance abusers who have injected pharmaceutical tablets intended for oral consumption.[4] The long-term effects of crospovidone within the lung are unknown. PVP added to iodine forms a complex called povidone-iodine that possesses disinfectant properties.[5] This complex is used in various products like solutions, ointment, pessaries, liquid soaps and surgical scrubs. It is known under the trade name Betadine.
It is used in pleurodesis (fusion of the pleura because of incessant pleural effusions). For this purpose, povidone iodine is equally effective and safe as talc, and may be preferred because of easy availability and low cost.[6]
PVP is also used in many technical applications:
PVP binds to polar molecules exceptionally well, owing to its polarity. This has led to its application in coatings for photo-quality ink-jet papers and transparencies, as well as in inks for inkjet printers.
PVP is also used in personal care products, such as shampoos and toothpastes, in paints, and adhesives that must be moistened, such as old-style postage stamps and envelopes. It has also been used in contact lens solutions and in steel-quenching solutions.[9][10] PVP is the basis of the early formulas for hair sprays and hair gels, and still continues to be a component of some.
As a food additive, PVP is a stabilizer and has E number E1201. PVPP is E1202. It is also used in the wine industry as a fining agent for white wine or some beers. Other references state that polyvinyl pyrrolidone and its derivatives are fully from mineral synthetic[11] origin. Therefore, its use in the production should not be a problem for vegans.
In molecular biology, PVP can be used as a blocking agent during Southern blot analysis as a component of Denhardt's buffer. It is also exceptionally good at absorbing polyphenols during DNA purification. Polyphenols are common in many plant tissues and can deactivate proteins if not removed and therefore inhibit many downstream reactions like PCR.
In microscopy, PVP is useful for making an aqueous mounting medium.[12]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this chemical for many uses,[13] and it is generally considered safe. However, there have been documented cases of allergic reactions to PVP/povidone, particularly regarding subcutaneous (applied under the skin) use and situations where the PVP has come in contact with autologous serum (internal blood fluids) and mucous membranes. For example, a boy having an anaphylactic response after application of PVP-Iodine for treatment of impetigo was found to be allergic to the PVP component of the solution.[14] A woman, who had previously experienced urticaria (hives) from various hair products, later found to contain PVP, had an anaphylactic response after povidone-iodine solution was applied internally. She was found to be allergic to PVP.[15] In another case, a man experiencing anaphylaxis after taking acetaminophen tablets orally was found to be allergic to PVP.[16]
Povidone is commonly used in conjunction with other chemicals. Some of these, such as iodine, are blamed for allergic responses, although testing results in some patients show no signs of allergy to the suspect chemical. Allergies attributed to these other chemicals may possibly be caused by the PVP instead.[17][18]