Biomechanical effect of carbon nanomaterial implanted in rabbit corneal stroma

Session Details

Session Title: Corneal Biomechanics

Session Date/Time: Sunday 15/09/2019 | 16:30-18:00

Paper Time: 17:06

Venue: Free Paper Forum: Podium 4

First Author: : S.Chen CHINA

Co Author(s): :    P. Zhu   A. Vega-Estrada   J. Silvestre-Albero   J. Alio   F. Rodriguez-Reinoso   L. Bataille              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate whether the implantation of carbon nanomaterials could effectively improve the biomechanical properties of rabbit cornea, providing a new idea approach for the treatment of keratoconus.

Setting:

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Methods:

Forty rabbits were divided into two groups (A = 25, B=15). After removing the epithelium of the corneas, for group A, puncturing 15 small holes, the right eyes were infiltrated with 0.28 mg/ml carbon nanomaterial solution for 1 min (A-CNS group) and the left eyes were infiltrated with saline solution(A-SS group), for group B, the right eyes were exposed to riboflavin (0.22% concentration by volume) and ultraviolet-A (370nm, 3mW/cm2 ) for 30 minutes(B-3mW group), the left eyes were exposed to riboflavin without irradiation(B-blank group). After 3 months, the corneas were prepared for inflation testing.

Results:

Carbon nanomaterials can improve the biomechanical properties of rabbit cornea after implantation. For two groups, compared with left eyes, the tangent elastic modulus of the right eyes were higher and the tangent elastic modulus increases reduced from 154.9% to 141.15%(group A)and from 197.72% to 171.75%(group B) in the stress from 0.001Mpa to 0.01Mpa. These increases were significant (P<.05). Besides, the tangential elastic modulus of the B-3mW group was greater than A-CNS group, P<0.05 was statistically significant. The tangent elastic modulus of the A-SS group and B-blank group were similar, and the difference of P>0.05 was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

Implantation of carbon nanomaterials could effectively improve the biomechanical properties of rabbit cornea. However, compared with the classical UV-riboflavin corneal collagen cross-linking, the biomechanical properties of this method approach are slightly weaker. Therefore, more in-depth studies and discussions are still needed on whether such a degree of biomechanical property enhancement can effectively prevent the progression of keratoconus.

Financial Disclosure:

None