An iodine-coated titanium plate prepared with potassium iodide

Objective To explore the feasibility of preparing an iodine-coated titanium plate with potassium iodide and verify its antibacterial performance. Methods Iodine was coated onto the surface of a titanium plate in electrolyte of potassium iodide using the electrophoretic deposition method. The signs and composition of the surface of the iodine-coated titanium plate were observed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The experiment was conducted in a control group and 3 antibacterial test groups. The control group consisted of 10 titanium plates which had been pretreated but not loaded with iodine; the 3 experimental groups also had in each 10 titanium plates which had been pretreated and loaded with iodine in the electrolytes of concentrations of 1,000 mg/L, 2,000 mg/L and 4,000 mg/L, respectively. The antimicrobial tests in vitro were conducted with standard strains of staphylococcus aureus [1×106 Colony-Forming Units (CFU)/mL ATCC25923] to determine the antibacterial property of the plates. Results The iodine-coated titanium plates appeared grey and their surface was evenly covered with a flat coating with no collapse. The scanning electron microscopy observed on the surface of the iodine-coated titanium plates an iodine coating with scattered irregular collapses in different sizes. The iodine content was 0 mass%, 5.10 mass%, 10.32 mass% and 15.05 mass%, respectively, in the control, 1,000 mg/L, 2,000 mg/L and 4 000 mg/L groups under the energy dispersive spectroscopy. Their counts of in vitro antibacterial colony were 56.00±5.09, 21.40±2.76, 9.10±2.51, and 2.00±1.88, respectively, showing significant differences between groups (P< 0.05). Conclusions A titanium plate with a steady and even iodine coating can be prepared by virtue of the electrophoretic deposition method in electrolyte of potassium iodide. The antibacterial property of an iodine-coated titanium plate is superior to that of a titanium plate without iodine coating. Key words: Iodine; Potassium iodide; Titanium; Bone plates; Infection