April 2011
Volume 52, Issue 14
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2011
UV-Crosslinking for Sutureless Fixation of Biosynthetic Corneal Implants after Lamellar Keratoplasty
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Karin A. Kobuch
    Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ophthalmology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
  • Katharina Plank
    Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ophthalmology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
  • Christoph Winkler von Mohrenfels
    Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ophthalmology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
  • Verena Engelmann
    Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ophthalmology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
  • Sarah Pfrommer
    Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ophthalmology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
  • Michael Baumann
    MLase AG, Germering, Germany
  • Johannes Junger
    MLase AG, Germering, Germany
  • Kimberley Merrett
    Eye Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • May Griffith
    Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoeping University, Linkoeping, Sweden
  • Chris P. Lohmann
    Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ophthalmology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Muenchen, Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  Karin A. Kobuch, None; Katharina Plank, None; Christoph Winkler von Mohrenfels, None; Verena Engelmann, None; Sarah Pfrommer, None; Michael Baumann, MLase AG Germering Germany (I); Johannes Junger, MLase AG Germering Germany (I); Kimberley Merrett, None; May Griffith, None; Chris P. Lohmann, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  EURO Nano Med
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2011, Vol.52, 349. doi:
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      Karin A. Kobuch, Katharina Plank, Christoph Winkler von Mohrenfels, Verena Engelmann, Sarah Pfrommer, Michael Baumann, Johannes Junger, Kimberley Merrett, May Griffith, Chris P. Lohmann; UV-Crosslinking for Sutureless Fixation of Biosynthetic Corneal Implants after Lamellar Keratoplasty. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2011;52(14):349.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : To develop and investigate a surgical technique for sutureless fixation of new biosynthetic corneal implants by UV-collagen crosslinking ex vivo in porcine eyes.

Methods: : Biosynthetic implants, 350µm thick, were fabricated from recombinant human collagen type III for replacement of the anterior cornea after lamellar keratoplasty. Surgery was performed on enucleated porcine eyes either with a 6 mm trephine, or femtolaser-assisted (Wave Light GmbH Erlangen, Germany). After application of riboflavin 0.1% on the corneal bed and the implant, crosslinking was performed by UV radiation (365nm, 3mW/cm², 30min; MLase AG, Germering Germany). Thereafter the corneae within a thin sclera ring were excised and prepared for histological examination (fixation in PFA4%, Paraffin-embedding). Morphological evaluation of crosslinking effects was performed on HE-stained and picrosirius-stained sections and by scanning electron microscopy of the implant / corneal interface. Specimens without UV radiation and with allografts were used as controls.

Results: : The optical and mechanical properties of the implants were ideal for the surgical techniques we used. After Riboflavin/UV-crosslinking the implants remained permanently adhesive within the corneal bed during all further procedures. In contrast, implants detached completely in controls without UV radiation. An intensive contact at the implant/cornea interface with connecting collagen structures could be demonstrated in histological sections by HE-staining, special staining for collagen (picrosirius) and by scanning electron microscopy.

Conclusions: : These first morphological results show that Riboflavin /UV collagen crosslinking may provide excellent support for atraumatic, sutureless fixation of free corneal implants and thus reduce irritations and complications which can be caused by sutures.

Keywords: keratoprostheses • cornea: clinical science • cornea: stroma and keratocytes 
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