The Iodine-Dextrin-Lithium Complex: Morphology, Antibacterial Activity, and Cytotoxicity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Antimicrobial Agents

Background:

• Development of novel antimicrobial agents is crucial to combat rising antibiotic resistance.
• Iodine is a potent antiseptic, but its direct application faces challenges like instability and irritation.
• Hybrid supramolecular systems offer a platform to combine therapeutic agents with stabilizing and delivery components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a new iodine-dextrin-lithium complex (IDLC) as a hybrid supramolecular system.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity of the synthesized IDLC.
• To assess the potential of IDLC for pharmaceutical applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and structural characterization of the iodine-dextrin-lithium complex.
• Physicochemical analyses including thermal stability assessment.
• In vitro biological evaluation: bactericidal activity testing (MBCs) against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, and cytotoxicity assays (CC50) on various human and cell lines.

Main Results:

• The iodine-dextrin-lithium complex (IDLC) was successfully synthesized and confirmed as a uniform, thermally stable supramolecular system.
• IDLC demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, with MBCs from 1.95 to 15.63 µg mL⁻¹.
• Cytotoxicity studies showed moderate effects on human PBMCs and low toxicity on MDCK cells, with non-specific cytotoxicity observed on tumor and normal cell lines at high concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Iodine can be effectively stabilized within a dextrin-lithium framework to create a thermally resistant and biologically active complex.
• The synthesized IDLC exhibits potent antimicrobial properties and a generally favorable safety profile, making it suitable for pharmaceutical development.
• Further research into IDLC could lead to new therapeutic strategies for combating bacterial infections, particularly those caused by resistant strains.