Evaluation of new polymer-iodine complexes for the fabrication of medical devices.
Povidone-iodine has been a true success story in the fight against infections by harnessing the antimicrobial and antiviral properties of elemental iodine for water-based applications. However, to date there has been little success in implementing iodine attributes in water-insoluble engineering plastics. Here, we describe the first development of biocidal active polyamide- and polyurethane-iodine complexes at laboratory and commercially relevant scales. These polymer-iodine materials are active against a broad range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast and fungi, and can be used as base materials for medical devices. The use of new polymer-iodine complexes for infection prevention in medical devices, such as sutures, catheters and drains, or wound care is expected to have significant positive effects at reducing healthcare-acquired infections. In addition, the materials are expected to find significant applications in other fields, such as air handling with the production of biocidal face masks and air filters to control spread of pathogens.