Comparison of Riboflavin/Ultraviolet-A Cross-Linking in Porcine, Rabbit, and Human Sclera. (2nd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yali; Li, Zhiwei; Liu, Lei; Han, Xuguang; Zhao, Xiaomin; Mu, Guoying
• Other Names: Diakonis Vasilios F. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: BioMed research international. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-01-02
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/194204
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-6133

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose . To compare the biomechanical properties of porcine, rabbit, and human sclera before and after riboflavin/ultraviolet-A (UVA) collagen cross-linking (CXL). Methods . Eight rabbits, 8 porcine eyeballs, and 8 human eyeballs were included. One rabbit eye and half of each bisected human and porcine eyeball were treated with riboflavin/UVA CXL. Untreated fellow rabbit eyes and eyeball halves served as controls. A 10 mm × 20 mm scleral band was harvested from each specimen. From this band, two 3.5 mm × 15.0 mm strips were prepared for biomechanical testing. The biomechanical parameters were ultimate stress, stress and Young's modulus. Results . Values of stress, and Young's modulus showed that human sclera was 4 times stiffer than porcine sclera and 3 times stiffer than rabbit sclera. In rabbit sclera, both the stress and Young's modulus were significantly increased by CXL (P < 0.05 ). In porcine sclera, only the ultimate stress was significantly increased by CXL (P < 0.05 ). The biomechanical properties of human sclera were not statistically affected by CXL (P > 0.05 ). Conclusions . Human sclera has higher biomechanical stiffness than porcine and rabbit sclera. With the same irradiation dose, riboflavin/UVA CXL increases the biomechanical stiffness of rabbit sclera but not porcine or human sclera.