Hydrogen peroxide: a potential wound therapeutic target?

ABSTRACT

Hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2]] is a topical antiseptic used in wound cleaning which kills pathogens through oxidation burst and local oxygen production. [H[2]O[2]] has been reported to be a reactive biochemical molecule synthesized by various cells that influences biological behavior through multiple mechanisms alterations of membrane potential, generation of new molecules, and changing intracellular redox balance, which results in activation or inactivation of different signaling transduction pathways. Contrary to the traditional viewpoint that [H[2]O[2]] probably impairs tissue through its high oxidative property, a proper level of [H[2]O[2]] is considered an important requirement for normal wound healing. Although the present clinical use of [H[2]O[2]] is still limited to the elimination of microbial contamination and sometimes hemostasis, better understanding towards the sterilization ability and cell behavior regulatory function of [H[2]O[2]] within wounds will enhance the potential to exogenously augment and manipulate healing