Effects of Genipin Crosslinking of Porcine Perilimbal Sclera on Mechanical Properties and Intraocular Pressure

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The mechanical properties of sclera play an important role in ocular functions, protection, and disease. Modulating the sclera's properties by exogenous crosslinking offers a way to expand the tissue's range of properties for study of the possible influences on the eye's behavior and diseases such as glaucoma and myopia. The focus of this work was to evaluate the effects of genipin crosslinking targeting the porcine perilimbal sclera (PLS) since the stiffness of this tissue was previously found in a number of studies to influence the eye's intraocular pressure (IOP). The work includes experiments on tensile test specimens and whole globes. The specimen tests showed decreased strain-rate dependence and increased relaxation stress due to the cross-linker. Whole globe perfusion experiments demonstrated that eyes treated with genipin in the perilimbal region had increased IOPs compared to the control globes. Migration of the cross-linker from the target tissue to other tissues is a confounding factor in whole globe, biomechanical measurements, with crosslinking. A novel quantitative genipin assay of the trabecular meshwork (TM) was developed to exclude globes where the TM was inadvertently crosslinked. The perfusion study, therefore, suggests that elevated stiffness of the PLS can significantly increase IOP apart from effects of the TM in the porcine eye. These results demonstrate the importance of PLS biomechanics in aqueous outflow regulation and support additional investigations into the distal outflow pathways as a key source of outflow resistance.

Source: Bioengineering

DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11100996

Authors: John Riesterer, Alexus Warchock, Erik Krawczyk, Linyu Ni, Wonsuk Kim, Sayoko E. Moroi, Guan Xu, Alan Argento

Institutions: University of Michigan–Dearborn, University of Michigan, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Michigan Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Glaucoma and retinal disorders

Subfield: Ophthalmology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,069

Funders: National Science Foundation, Glaucoma Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation

OpenAlex ID: W4403063359