Effect of Protein and Electrolyte on the Spectral Stabilization of Concentrated Solutions of Indocyanine Green 1

Summary

The presence of protein and electrolyte in the concentrated indocyanine green solution was shown to slow the rate of optical stabilization following dilution of the concentrated solution in plasma. This finding explains some of the reported discrepancies in flow measurement with the dye. When the concentrated dye was prepared in distilled water the spectral stabilization after dilution was rapid (<2 sec) and should not be a source of error in flow measurement.

The authors thank Professors F. Wold and A. Moscowitz of the Departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry for illuminating discussions of detergent micelle stabilization by proteins and Drs. W. J. Runge of the Pathology Department and J. L. Holtzman of the Pharmacology Department for technical assistance.