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Carbon nanostructures for ocular tissue reinforcement

Session Details

Session Title: Corneal biomechanics

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 08/10/2013 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 08:00

Venue: Elicium 1 (First Floor)

First Author: : A.Vega Estrada SPAIN

Co Author(s): :    J. Alio   J. Silvestre   F. Rodriguez Reinoso   F. Soria     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To assess if carbon nanomaterials are safe for the corneal tissue and also to evaluate the mechanical properties of the cornea after the implantation of carbon nanostructures.

Setting:

Vissum Corporación Oftalmológica. Alicante, Spain. Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.

Methods:

An experimental protocol was performed where 24 eyes of 12 white rabbits were implanted with a composition containing a mixture of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes suspended in balanced saline solution. A pocket was created in the middle of the corneal stroma in which carbon nanomaterials were inplanted. The safety and biocompatibility of the dispersion composition in the corneal tissue was assessed by means of pathology examination of the samples 3 months after the initial procedure. Mechanical properties of the cornea were analyzed by performing stress-strain measurements in order to determine the modulus of elasticity of the corneal tissue (Young“s modulus).

Results:

Pathology samples of corneal stroma stained with blue Alcian showed that there is no fibrous scaring and no alterations in the mucopolysaccharides of the corneal stroma. It also shows that there are no signs of active inflammation after the procedure. The latest is corroborated when the Masson trichrome staining is performed. Masson trichrome staining also showed that there is no inflammation and no foreign body giant cell reaction against the carbon nanomaterials implanted. It also shows a strong adhesion of the tissue in the area surrounding the carbon nanomaterials. Biomechanical evaluation assessed by means of the Young“s modulus showed that there is a trend to obtained higher levels of rigidity in those samples implanted with carbon nanomaterials when comparing with a control group, although this changes were not statistically significant (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

Implanting carbon nanostructures (Graphene and Carbon nanotubes) are biocompatible and a safe procedure for the corneal stroma. Biomechanical evaluation shows that there is a trend to obtain more rigidity of the corneal tissue after carbon nanostructures implantation.

Financial Interest:

NONE