The Relationship Between Mechanical Properties, Ultrastructural Changes, and Intrafibrillar Bond Formation in Corneal UVA/Riboflavin Cross-linking Treatment for Keratoconus



Chang, Shao-Hsuan ORCID: 0000-0003-4136-7928, Eliasy, Ashkan ORCID: 0000-0002-4473-1900, Chen, Kai-Jung ORCID: 0000-0003-4940-6856, Ji, You-Ren, Young, Tai-Horng, Wang, Tsung-Jen, Willoughby, Colin E, Hamill, Kevin J ORCID: 0000-0002-7852-1944 and Elsheikh, Ahmed ORCID: 0000-0001-7456-1749
(2018) The Relationship Between Mechanical Properties, Ultrastructural Changes, and Intrafibrillar Bond Formation in Corneal UVA/Riboflavin Cross-linking Treatment for Keratoconus. JOURNAL OF REFRACTIVE SURGERY, 34 (4). pp. 264-272.

This is the latest version of this item.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.
[img] Text
the-relationship-between-mechanical-properties-ultrastructural-changes-and-intrafibrillar-bond-formation-in-corneal-uvariboflavin-cross-linking-treatment-for-keratoconus.pdf - Published version

Download (9MB)

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between mechanical behavior in cross-linked corneas and changes in the corneal ultrastructure after corneal cross-linking (CXL). METHODS: Porcine corneas were treated following the “Dresden” protocol, the current gold standard for clinical treatment, consisting of dropwise application of 0.1% riboflavin in 20% dextran followed by 30 minutes of ultraviolet-A (UVA) irradiation. The effect of CXL was assessed using uniaxial tensile testing, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, with results compared against corneas treated with each of the treatment solution components individually. RESULTS: UVA/riboflavin cross-linked corneas displayed 28% ± 17% increase in the material tangent modulus compared with dextran treatment alone, and altered collagen architecture within the first 300 µm of stromal depth consisting of 5% increase in the thickness of collagen fibrils, no significant changes to interfibrillar spacing, and an 8% to 12% decrease in number of fibrils per unit area. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed formation of interfibrillar bonds (P = .012) induced by UVA-mediated CXL. CONCLUSIONS: The data support a model wherein collagen fibril diameter and structural density are fundamental parameters in defining tissue stiffening following UVA/riboflavin CXL and provide benchmarks against which modifications to the Dresden CXL protocol can be evaluated.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Cornea, Corneal Stroma, Animals, Swine, Keratoconus, Collagen, Riboflavin, Photosensitizing Agents, Cross-Linking Reagents, Microscopy, Electron, Transmission, Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared, Ultraviolet Rays, Biomechanical Phenomena
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 23 Apr 2019 09:40
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 00:54
DOI: 10.3928/1081597X-20180220-01
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.3928/1081597X-20180220-01
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3036477

Available Versions of this Item