Iodine-treated, fresh tilapia fish skin graft maintains disinfection and structural integrity for 7 days with cold storage.

Iodine-treated tilapia fish skin maintains disinfection and structural integrity for 7 days under cold storage.

This prospective ex vivo study evaluated the efficacy of iodine disinfection and cold storage on tilapia fish skin (TFS) as a wound dressing material, assessed through microbiological, histological, and spectroscopic methods. Nine farm-raised fresh tilapias were enrolled in September 2024. Harvested TFS was treated with either 10% iodine or saline for 15 minutes, then aseptically packaged and stored at 4°C. Evaluations occurred at days 0, 1, 3, and 7. Iodine-treated TFS demonstrated significantly lower bacterial counts compared to saline-treated controls (0.56 ± 0.88 vs. 19.67 ± 6.12 CFUs/mL) and maintained disinfection through 7 days of storage (4.11 ± 3.48 CFUs/mL). Histological analysis revealed that collagen integrity and organization were preserved throughout the study period, with organization grades remaining stable or improving slightly. Collagen intensity remained low across all time points (15.61%–26.59%). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified variably detectable lipids across all samples; however, no eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was detected. These findings support TFS as a viable, readily accessible wound dressing that can be harvested, disinfected with iodine, and stored under refrigeration for up to 7 days while maintaining structural integrity and microbial control. Further studies are warranted to better characterize the lipid profile and assess clinical efficacy in vivo.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.