Final answer:
To achieve an antiseptic effect with Iodophors, free iodine must be released when the iodophor is diluted with water. This released iodine is then able to oxidize microbial cells, leading to disinfection.
Step-by-step explanation:
For an antiseptic effect to occur with Iodophors, free iodine must be released from the complex. Iodophors are a type of antiseptic where iodine is complexed with an organic molecule, increasing the stability and efficacy of iodine as a disinfectant. The process of release happens when the iodophor solution is diluted with water, which allows the iodine to dissociate from the carrier molecule. When free, iodine can exert its antiseptic properties by oxidizing cellular components of microbes, such as sulfur-containing amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids. This compromises the integrity of microbial cells, resulting in disinfection. Povidone-iodine, a common iodophor, acts as a controlled-release reservoir of iodine and includes a wetting agent that releases iodine relatively slowly, thus allowing it to be an effective and longer-lasting antiseptic.