Assessment of the corneal collagen organization after chemical burn using second harmonic generation microscopy

Bueno, Juan M. ; Avila, Francisco J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Lorenzo-Martin, Elvira ; Gallego-Muñoz, Patricia ; Martinez-Garcia, M. Carmen

Resumen: The organization of the corneal stoma is modified due to different factors, including pathology, surgery or external damage. Here the changes in the organization of the corneal collagen fibers during natural healing after chemical burn are investigated using second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging. Moreover, the structure tensor (ST) was used as an objective tool for morphological analyses at different time points after burn (up to 6 months). Unlike control corneas that showed a regular distribution, the collagen pattern at 1 month of burn presented a non-organized arrangement. SHG signal levels noticeably decreased and individual fibers were hardly visible. Over time, the healing process led to a progressive re-organization of the fibers that could be quantified through the ST. At 6 months, the stroma distribution reached values similar to those of control eyes and a dominant direction of the fibers re-appeared. The present results show that SHG microscopy imaging combined with the ST method is able to objectively monitor the temporal regeneration of the corneal organization after chemical burn. Future implementations of this approach into clinically adapted devices would help to diagnose and quantify corneal changes, not only due to chemical damages, but also as a result of disease or surgical procedures.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1364/BOE.412819

Año: 2021

Publicado en: Biomedical Optics Express 12, 2 (2021), 756-765
ISSN: 2156-7085

Factor impacto JCR: 3.562 (2021)

Categ. JCR: BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS rank: 33 / 79 = 0.418 (2021) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING rank: 61 / 136 = 0.449 (2021) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: OPTICS rank: 31 / 100 = 0.31 (2021) - Q2 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 6.7 - Physics and Astronomy (Q1) - Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.12 - Biotechnology (Q1) - Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/PI15-01906

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Óptica (Dpto. Física Aplicada)