title: Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses of low-temperature laser welding of the cornea.
abstract: Low-temperature laser welding of the cornea is a technique used to facilitate the closure of corneal cuts. The procedure consists of staining the wound with a chromophore (indocyanine green), followed by continuous wave irradiation with an 810 nm diode laser operated at low power densities (12-16 W/cm(2)), which induces local heating in the 55-65 degrees C range. In this study, we aimed to investigate the ultrastructural modifications in the extracellular matrix following laser welding of corneal wounds by means of atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results evidenced marked disorganization of the normal fibrillar assembly, although collagen appeared not to be denatured under the operating conditions we employed. The mechanism of low-temperature laser welding may be related to some structural modifications of the nonfibrillar extracellular components of the corneal stroma.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Fisica Applicata, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy. p.matteini@ifac.cnr.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matteini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sbrana
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tiribilli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003315:Cornea / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000008:administration & dosage; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens; D007208:Indocyanine Green