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Molecular Mechanisms of Ozone Therapy

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 4303

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Unidad de Investigación. Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas, Spain
2. Fundación Canaria del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC), Las Palmas, Spain
3. Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
4. CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
Interests: ozone therapy; atherosclerosis; hypertension; lipoproteins; genomics
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Guest Editor
1. Research Unit, Chronic Pain Unit and Radiation Oncology, Dr. Negrín University Hospital, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain
2. Universitary Institute for Research in Biomedicine and Health (IUIBS), Molecular and Translational Pharmacology (BIOPHARM) Group, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
Interests: preclinical and clinical research (oncology, radiation therapy, chronic pain)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Obstetricia, Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Interests: free living amoebae; therapeutics; emerging parasitic protozoa; diagnosis; natural compounds; synthetic compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on Molecular Mechanisms of Ozone Therapy focuses on advancing the understanding of how medical ozone exerts its therapeutic effects beyond the well-established activation of the Nrf2 pathway. Ozone therapy has demonstrated benefits in modulating cellular redox balance, regulating mitochondrial function, and enhancing cellular signaling processes such as autophagy and apoptosis.

This Special Issue aims to describe lesser-known molecular mechanisms, including the role of ozone in modulating immune response, improving endothelial function, and influencing key transcription factors and signaling cascades like NF-κB, HIF-1α, and MAPKs. By highlighting these underexplored pathways, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive view of the cellular and molecular basis of ozone therapy, with its potential applications in managing conditions such as pain, chronic inflammation, ischemic syndromes, ischemia–reperfusion injury, and neurodegenerative disorders. We are open to expanding the areas of interest of this Special Issue to include potential in vivo and ex vivo mechanisms of action of ozone that are relevant to the management of infectious diseases, their complications, and/or pathogen control, with a particular focus on addressing antimicrobial resistance and emerging infectious diseases.

Dr. Francisco Rodríguez-Esparragón
Dr. Bernadino Clavo
Dr. Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • antioxidant response
  • cellular stress responses
  • inflammatory signaling
  • mitochondrial function
  • molecular pathways
  • Nrf2
  • oxidative stress
  • ozone therapy
  • redox regulation
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • infectious diseases

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3108 KB  
Article
Ozonized Sunflower Oil: Standardization and Mechanisms of the Antimicrobial Effect
by Matheus Henrique Vieira, Diogo Boreski, Bibiana Franzen Matte, Jean Lucas de Oliveira Arias, Celso Martins Júnior, Tais Maria Bauab, Sthefano Atique Gabriel and Chung Man Chin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 9156; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26189156 - 19 Sep 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3250
Abstract
Ozonized vegetable oils are gaining attention for their antimicrobial and therapeutic potential, yet the lack of standardized ozonation protocols and incomplete characterization of their chemical profiles hinder clinical translation. In this study, we standardized the ozonation process of sunflower oil and investigated the [...] Read more.
Ozonized vegetable oils are gaining attention for their antimicrobial and therapeutic potential, yet the lack of standardized ozonation protocols and incomplete characterization of their chemical profiles hinder clinical translation. In this study, we standardized the ozonation process of sunflower oil and investigated the chemical evolution and antimicrobial efficacy of the resulting products. Ozonation proceeded through a classical three-step mechanism involving the formation of primary ozonides, their decomposition into carbonyl compounds and carbonyl oxides, and subsequent recombination into stable secondary ozonides capable of sustained ozone release with reduced toxicity. Time-course analysis at 100, 240, and 480 min revealed key reaction products, including the appearance of azelaic acid after 240 min, progressive depletion of linoleic acid, and the emergence of 2,5-furandione exclusively after 480 min—indicative of advanced oxidative processes. The formation of hydroperoxides and their secondary degradation into ketones, acids, and epoxides was also observed, with implications for both biological activity and sensory properties. Importantly, the ozonized oil demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. These findings provide a comprehensive chemical and functional characterization of ozonized sunflower oil and support its development as a standardized antimicrobial agent for therapeutic use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Ozone Therapy)
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Review

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15 pages, 438 KB  
Review
Advances in Ozone-Based Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: An Updated Review
by Karyne Rangel, Maria Helena Simões Villas-Bôas and Salvatore Giovanni De-Simone
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3632; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083632 - 18 Apr 2026
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Abstract
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the rapid development and deployment of novel strategies and methodologies to manage the dissemination of microorganisms. Understanding the crucial role that contaminated surfaces play in the spread of viruses highlights the importance of having effective cleaning [...] Read more.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the rapid development and deployment of novel strategies and methodologies to manage the dissemination of microorganisms. Understanding the crucial role that contaminated surfaces play in the spread of viruses highlights the importance of having effective cleaning and disinfection protocols in place for inanimate objects. A variety of antimicrobial agents have shown strong effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Various factors can impact on the performance of these agents. As a result, technologies utilizing ozone’s microbicidal effects have been developed or improved for cleaning indoor areas, surfaces, and materials, despite ozone’s diverse uses being known for years. Ozone offers the advantage of adaptability for both gaseous and aqueous use, depending on the nature of the decontaminated surfaces. Moreover, ozone-infused water is ecologically benign, possesses microbial-fighting capabilities, and synergistically reinforces the biocidal action of other chemical disinfectants. This review aims to summarize the efforts dedicated to harnessing gaseous and aqueous ozone as a valuable means to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus from environments, surfaces, clinical equipment, and office supplies. This review sourced evidence-based articles from electronic databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and preprint repositories. The findings illustrated that ozone could serve as an additional tool for curbing the proliferation of COVID-19 and other viral infections. Additionally, we elucidated the operational attributes of ozone, the variables that influence its disinfection potency, and the mechanisms of its virucidal action. Notably, this review does not encompass the disinfection of the COVID-19 virus in wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Ozone Therapy)
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