Loss of Tryptophan Fluorescence Correlates With Mechanical Stiffness Following Photo-Crosslinking Treatment of Rabbit Cornea

Williams, Maura; Lewis, W. David; Franco, Walfre

doi:10.1167/iovs.16-20750

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…In a related fluorescence study using UV-initiated photocross-linking with riboflavin to increase corneal stiffness in enucleated rabbit eyes, the YM ranged from 10 to 30 MPa. 24 In this study, a dose-dependent decrease in the 290-/340-nm excitation/emission fluorescence pair with an increase in corneal stiffening after treatment was found. The source of UV fluorescence at these wavelengths is also endogenous to the cornea-and almost every tissueand ascribed to the aromatic amino acid tryptophan.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

Variations in the endogenous fluorescence of rabbit corneas after mechanical property alterations

et al. 2017

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Keratoconus is an eye disease in which the cornea progressively deforms due to loss of cornea mechanical rigidity, and thus causes deterioration of visual acuity. Techniques to characterize the mechanical characteristics of the cornea are important to better monitor changes and response to treatments. To investigate the feasibility of using the endogenous fluorescence of cornea for monitoring alterations of its mechanical rigidity, linear tensiometry was used to quantitate stiffness and Young's modulus (YM) after treatments that increase cornea stiffness (collagen photocross-linking) or decrease stiffness (enzymatic digestion). The endogenous ultraviolet fluorescence of cornea was also measured before and after these treatments. The fluorescence excitation/emission spectral ranges were 280 to 430/390 to 520 nm, respectively. A correlation analysis was carried out to identify fluorescence excitation/emission pairs whose intensity changes correlated with the stiffness. A positive correlation was found between variations in fluorescence intensity of the 415-/485-nm excitation/emission pair and YM of photocross-linked corneas. After treatment of corneas with pepsin, the YM decreased as the fluorescence intensity at 290-/390-nm wavelengths decreased. For weakening of corneas with collagenase, only qualitative changes in the fluorescence spectrum were observed. Changes in the concentration of native or newly created fluorescent molecular species contain information that may be directly or indirectly related to the mechanical structure of the cornea.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%