The Chemistry of Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Iodine**General Aniline and Film Corporation, Easton, Pa.

Polyvinylpyrrolidone is a water-soluble, physiologically acceptable polymer which has the ability to tie up iodine. The PVP-iodine resulting from this combination retains the germicidal and chemical nature of the iodine yet it is more water-soluble than iodine alone; it provides a more stable form of iodine in solution than iodine alone or some of the more common iodine preparations such as iodine tincture and Lugol's solution. The iodine present in PVP-iodine is not as irritating to tissue and mucosa as other iodine preparations of the same strength, and the toxicity of the iodine is reduced.