Eschar proteins

Eschar proteins are the primary structural and biological components of an eschar, which is the necrotic, devitalized tissue that forms over wounds, particularly in severe burns and chronic ulcers [1, 6]. These proteins predominantly include fibrous proteins such as collagen, fibrin, and elastin, as well as other components like fibronectin and hemoglobin, which often become denatured or cross-linked within the necrotic matrix [1, 17]. In clinical practice, eschar proteins serve as the therapeutic target for enzymatic debridement agents, which aim to liquefy and remove the necrotic tissue to facilitate wound healing and prevent infection [6, 24]. Drugs such as collagenase, bromelain-derived enzymes, and various microbial proteases interact with these proteins by catalyzing their breakdown, thereby cleaning the wound bed and allowing for subsequent tissue regeneration or grafting [19, 23]. Notable safety concerns include the potential for proteolytic damage to healthy surrounding tissue and localized pain or irritation during the debridement process [16, 24].

Other names

Necrotic tissue proteinsWound eschar proteinsSlough proteins

Enzymatic proteolysis and digestion of necrotic tissue proteins to facilitate debridement and wound healing.