J. Hickey et al., CONTROL OF THE AMOUNT OF FREE MOLECULAR-IODINE IN IODINE GERMICIDES, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 49(12), 1997, pp. 1195-1199
Horseradish peroxidase has been used to generate iodine compositions t
hat comprised principally free molecular iodine. The concentration of
free molecular iodine in these enzyme-based compositions ranged from 4
4 to 63% of the thiosulphate titratable iodine; this is substantially
higher than the corresponding value for the povidone-iodine preparatio
n betadine. The biocidal efficacy of these compositions was proportion
al to the concentration of free molecular iodine. Iodine compositions
with relatively low total iodine concentrations but high levels of fre
e molecular iodine (20-175 ppm) killed Staphylococcus aureus and spore
s of Bacillus subtilis more rapidly than betadine. The effects of norm
al saline and these enzyme-based iodine compositions on the rate of ep
idermal regeneration in superficial swine wounds were comparable. Thes
e results suggest that an effective germicide containing a high level
of molecular iodine need not be irritating or toxic.