Reactive Oxygen Species in Wound Healing

Wound healing is a highly orchestrated process encompassing haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated immediately after injury by resident cells and infiltrating leukocytes. At low concentrations ROS act as signalling mediators that regulate immune cell recruitment, keratinocyte migration, fibroblast activation and angiogenesis. They modulate growth factor release and extracellular matrix deposition, thereby accelerating barrier restoration. Conversely, excessive or prolonged ROS production can inflict oxidative damage on lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, leading to delayed healing or chronic wound formation. Tight spatial and temporal control of ROS levels—through endogenous antioxidants or exogenous interventions—is therefore crucial for optimal repair.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Comparative transcriptomic profiling in zebrafish larvae and human epidermal keratinocytes exposed to low-level hydrogen peroxide revealed conserved activation of cell migration, adhesion, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic gene programmes. Key ROS-dependent pathways identified include EGF, FOXO1 and IKKα signalling, underscoring potential molecular targets to enhance re-epithelialisation. In a separate study, an injectable self-healing glycolipid-based oleogel was shown to disassemble bacterial biofilms and promote wound closure in diabetic rats. This material modulates oxidative balance by controlling free radical generation, stimulating collagen synthesis and guiding the transition from inflammation to tissue remodelling, thus offering a supramolecular strategy to harness ROS for improved healing under compromised conditions.

Reactive Oxygen Species in Wound Healing publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in reactive oxygen species in wound healing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Chemically reactive oxygen derivatives that at low levels serve as signalling molecules but at high levels cause oxidative damage.

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2): A non-radical ROS produced by oxidases and NADPH oxidases; functions both as a disinfectant and as a diffusible signal in wound sites.

Sulfenylation: A reversible oxidative modification of cysteine residues forming sulfenic acid, which modulates protein function and redox-sensitive signalling.

Composite Bioadhesive: A hybrid material combining polymers and particles to adhere to tissue and deliver bioactive agents, such as controlled ROS release, to support healing.

References

1. The Role of Hydrogen Peroxide and Other Reactive Oxygen Species in Wound Healing. Acta Medica (2011).
2. Comparative transcriptomic profiling of hydrogen peroxide signaling networks in zebrafish and human keratinocytes: Implications toward conservation, migration and wound healing. Scientific Reports (2016).
3. An injectable self-healing anesthetic glycolipid-based oleogel with antibiofilm and diabetic wound skin repair properties. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Utilizing Robust Design to Optimize Composite Bioadhesive for Promoting Dermal Wound Repair. Polymers (2023).
5. Role of hydrogen peroxide in intra-operative wound preparation based on an in vitro fibrin clot degradation model. JPRAS Open (2021).
6. IKKα regulates human keratinocyte migration through surveillance of the redox environment. Journal of Cell Science (2017).