title: Effect of cross-linking with riboflavin and ultraviolet A on the chemical bonds and ultrastructure of human sclera.
abstract: This study examined the effect of the cross-linking with riboflavin-ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation on the chemical bonds and ultrastructural changes of human sclera tissues using Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Raman spectroscopy of the normal and cross-linked human sclera tissue revealed different types of the riboflavin-UVA and collagen interactions, which could be identified from their unique peaks, intensity, and shape. Raman spectroscopy can prove to be a powerful tool for examining the chemical bond of collagenous tissues at the molecular level. After riboflavin-UVA treatment, unlike a regular parallel arrangement of normal collagen fibrils, the AFM image revealed interlocking arrangements of collagen fibrils. The observed changes in the surface topography of the collagen fibrils, as well as in their chemical bonds in the sclera tissue, support the formation of interfibrilar cross-links in sclera tissues.
authors.affiliation: Kyung Hee University, College of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Healthcare Industry Research Institute, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeong-Bok
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hui-Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Ik
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Samjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyung-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Hun-Kuk
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012590:Sclera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D012256:Riboflavin