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  • Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization Mechanism

Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization Mechanism

On the mechanism of hydrogen peroxide sterilization

Hydrogen peroxide is effective in the field of sterilization. Its sterilization mechanism is of great value to explore.

Hydrogen peroxide sterilization is primarily due to its strong oxidative properties. The molecular structure of hydrogen peroxide contains a peroxygen bond, which is extremely unstable and easy to break and release reactive oxygen atoms. This reactive oxygen atom has strong oxidative capacity and can react with various components of microorganisms. If it interacts with the phospholipid components of bacterial cell membranes and oxidizes its unsaturated fatty acids, the cell membrane structure is damaged, the permeability is changed, and the intracellular material is leaked, and the bacteria lose their living environment, making it difficult to maintain normal physiological functions.

Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide can interact with microbial proteins and nucleic acids. Reactive oxygen species can oxidize the amino acid residues of proteins, causing changes in the spatial structure of proteins and loss of biological activity. For nucleic acids, reactive oxygen species can attack their bases, causing base damage and breakage, affecting the transmission and expression of genetic information. Microorganisms cannot replicate, transcribe and translate normally, and the process of life is blocked until death.

In addition, hydroxyl radicals produced by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide are also key factors in sterilization. Hydroxyl radicals have extremely high reactivity and oxidation, and can quickly react with surrounding substances. In microbial cells, hydroxyl radicals react extensively with various biological macromolecules, triggering a chain reaction that further destroys cell structure and function, and accelerates microbial death.

In summary, hydrogen peroxide can achieve high-efficiency sterilization through strong oxidation, interaction with biomacromolecules, and hydroxyl radicals, and plays an important role in many fields that require sterilization, such as medical and health care and food processing.