Virucidal activity and cytotoxicity of the liposomal formulation of povidone-iodine

Two drug Formulations of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) - an aqueous PVP-I solution (Betaisodona(R)) and a liposomal PVP-I formulation were tested for their virucidal activity and cytotoxicity in cell Culture. As to the virudical activity against influenza A virus, herpes simplex virus type 1. adenovirus type 8 and human rhinovirus type 14, the liposomal formulation of PVP-I proved to be approximately as active as the aqueous one. Half maximum cytotoxic PVP-I concentrations were 0.01-0.07% for aqueous PVP-I and 0.03-0.27% for the liposomal PVP-I formulation (XTT reduction assay EZ4U). The detection of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, DNA fragmentation (ELISA) and DNA strand breakage (TUNEL assay) after 24 It exposure of human embryonic lung fibroblasts to PVP-I revealed that necrosis predominates in cells treated with aqueous 0.08-0.32% PVP-I solutions, whereas apoptosis was the predominant type of cell death in cells treated with equivalent concentrations of liposomal PVP-I formulation, The favorable virucidal efficiency together with the preferred apoptotic route of cell death makes the liposomal PVP-I formulation a promising candidate for topical use in prevention and treatment of infections of the eye and the upper respirators tract. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.