An investigation on how purified aqueous chlorine dioxide interacts with porcine jejunal cells in vitro

Abstract

As antimicrobial resistance rises, greater efforts are being made into finding alternative active agents such as antiseptics. Chlorine dioxide is an inorganic, potent biocide which due to toxic impurities was in the past not safe to be ingested. However, recently the production of highly purified aqueous solutions of chlorine dioxide has been made possible and relatively easy. This has raised the question of whether it could be an ideal biocidal additive to the diet of food producing animals. Microbial resistance to chlorine dioxide is unlikely due to the fact that it acts on the thiol group which is fundamental in all living organisms. Chlorine dioxide has been found to be highly biocidal in low concentrations on intestinal biota while simultaneously at this same concentration having no negative effect to daily weight gain. However, the extensive knowledge of its interaction with the intestinal epithelium is yet to be elucidated. The aim of this research is to gain a greater understanding of its interaction with the gut epithelium with special focus the cells involved in the inflammatory process.