Oxygen-sensitive

Describing a substance, organism, or process that is negatively affected by the presence of oxygen. This sensitivity can manifest in various ways, including degradation, inactivation, or altered function. oxygen-sensitive materials often require specialized handling, storage, and manipulation to prevent unwanted reactions or changes. In biological contexts, the term applies to organisms that cannot tolerate or thrive in environments with oxygen, or to specific cellular components vulnerable to oxidative damage. Understanding oxygen sensitivity is crucial in fields such as medicine, biotechnology, and materials science to control or avoid unwanted effects.

Oxygen-sensitive meaning with examples

• Anaerobic bacteria are highly oxygen-sensitive; exposure to air quickly kills them, rendering them useless in experiments. Special equipment such as gloveboxes or sealed containers are critical for culturing them, as any level of contamination with oxygen is detrimental to their growth and metabolism. Oxygen-free conditions are necessary for their survival.
• The new catalyst developed for the reaction proved to be oxygen-sensitive. Even trace amounts of oxygen deactivated the catalyst, dramatically reducing the reaction rate. Researchers had to implement strict measures to remove and exclude any oxygen contamination during synthesis, handling, and application, using inert atmospheres.
• Certain components of the patient's medication were identified as oxygen-sensitive during storage trials. Improper storage would cause degradation, affecting both the effectiveness and safety of the medicine. Careful control of the storage environment using specialized packaging and inert gas displacement methods was implemented.
• The manufacturing process of the new polymers requires carefully controlled conditions because its performance is oxygen-sensitive. Exposure to oxygen can lead to cross-linking and altered material properties. Production facilities were constructed with inert gas purging systems and strict atmosphere controls.
• In the field of materials science, some conducting polymers are oxygen-sensitive and rapidly degrade when exposed to air. This sensitivity limits their application in some areas, particularly those which require long-term stability. Researchers are focusing on developing oxygen-resistant alternatives.