Structural and Chemical Characterization of Corneas Submitted to Action of Modified Inductors Crosslinking Agents

Abstract

Keratoconus is usually defined as a noninflammatory and degenerative eye disease, which generate structural changes such as loss of cohesion between collagen fibers, becoming the cornea less rigid and allowing a conical shape, thus decreasing the visual acuity and quality of life of the patient. With an average incidence of 1:1000, is among the leading causes of corneal transplantation, which is the only curative methodfor keratoconus. The other procedures aimed at stabilizing the progression of the disease. Nowadays, the most commonly non-surgical technique used is the photosensitization of riboflavin by ultraviolet-A (UVA) light at 365nm, after corneal scarification, having in mind that this molecule does not penetrate the epithelium. Although this methodology promotes crosslinking of the corneal collagen, resulting in increased stiffness and hindering further deformation, which can bring a lot of discomfort and complications to the patient. Within this context, this project intends to analyze the effect of amphiphilic molecules of riboflavin (phosphate and base), because of its polarity can penetrate the epithelium, setting in the stroma, where they will be photostimulated by UVA. Therefore, córneas of rabbits obtained from slaughterhouse will be treated in vitro and proceed to the thermal characterization by differential scanning calorimetry, enzymatic digestion by collagenase and histological analyzes of both samples: control and treated with nanoemulsions of amphiphilic riboflavins, comparing with the standard methodology of riboflavin photostimulated. Additionally, these new molecules will have their viability analyzed in human keratocytes and human eye epithelial cell lines.