Cytotoxic effect of povidone–iodine (PVP–I) and polyvinyl alcohol iodine(PVA–I2) on cultured rabbit corneal cell lines (SIRC)

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:Povidone–iodine (PVP–I) and polyvinyl alcohol iodine (PVA–I₂) are broad–spectrum microbiocides with in vitro activity against gram–negative and gram–positive bacteria, fungi and protozoa. These antiseptics have been used for disinfection of palpebral skin and the conjunctival sac in ophthalmic surgery, but they have been known to induce cytotoxicity in corneal tissue. In this study, the cytotoxicity of PVP–I and PVA–I₂ on cultured SIRC cells was studied. Methods: Cultured SIRC cells were exposed to PVP–I diluted at 0.01%∼0.05% for 30 seconds. A separate batch of cultured SIRC cells was exposed to PVA–I₂ diluted at 0.0031%∼0.1% for 30 seconds. The cytotoxicity of these antiseptics was also microscopically (light and transmission electron microscopically) observed after a 30 second exposure to cultured SIRC cells. Results:The 50% inhibitory concentration(IC₅₀) of a 30 second exposure to these antiseptics was determined to be: PVI–I 0.037%, and PVA–I₂ 0.02%. Transmission electron microscopic examination of these iodide groups revealed edema of the cytoplasm and a few vacuoles in the cultured SIRC cells. Conclusion:These results indicate that cytotoxicity of these iodides occurs in dose and treatment time dependent manners, and in groups PVP–I and PVA–I_2, the SIRC cell morphology was not significantly changed and the cytotoxicity of PVP–I did not differ from that of PVA–I₂ on the SIRC cells.

Keywords: cornea: epithelium • cell death/apoptosis • drug toxicity/drug effects