New In Situ-Generated Polymer-Iodine Complexes with Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Antimicrobial Agents
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Infectious diseases pose a significant public health concern, exacerbated by hospital-acquired infections linked to medical implants.
• Medical implant-associated infections are challenging to treat, leading to increased healthcare costs and patient morbidity.
• Existing antiseptic solutions often have limitations in long-term material applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel biocidal active polyamide- and polyurethane-iodine complexes for infection control.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of *in situ* generation of these polymer-iodine complexes during fabrication.
• To evaluate the broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy of these new materials.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polyamide- and polyurethane-iodine complexes *in situ* during polymerization.
• Testing of the biocidal activity of the developed polymer-iodine materials against a range of microorganisms.
• Assessment of the materials for potential application in medical devices.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced *in situ* polyamide- and polyurethane-iodine complexes at laboratory and commercial scales.
• Demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi.
• Confirmed that water-insoluble engineering plastics can achieve antiseptic properties similar to water-soluble povidone-iodine.

Conclusions:

• Polyamide- and polyurethane-iodine complexes offer a promising approach to creating inherently biocidal materials.
• The *in situ* fabrication method facilitates ease of manufacture and commercialization.
• These materials are well-suited for use in medical devices to mitigate infection risks and control pathogen spread.