In this preclinical study we demonstrated that treatment with repetitive magnetic stimulation (RMS) protects the epithelial layer in a rabbit model of exposure keratopathy, preventing loss of the epithelial cells and maintaining the function of the corneal barrier under extreme desiccation conditions. A single 15 minutes RMS treatment supported corneal barrier integrity under acute desiccation for 3 months. AS-OCT imaging and histopathology analysis demonstrated the safety of RMS treatment. Our study suggests that repetitive magnetic stimulation may present a novel treatment for protection of corneal epithelium in patients with DES, and may alleviate DES symptoms.
Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), infra-red and multicolor fundus imaging for monitoring the safety and efficacy of therapeutics delivery into the extravascular spaces of the choroid (EVSC).
Methods: Two hundred and fifty microliters containing Indocyanine Green (ICG), sodium fluorescein, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) or 15 million human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) were injected using a novel minimally-invasive adjustable-depth blunt injector into the EVSC of New Zealand White rabbits, 3.5 mm posterior to the limbus. SD-OCT, infra-red and multicolor fundus imaging and histology analysis were performed to assess injection safety and efficacy.
Results: Infra-red wide angle (102°) imaging demonstrated that injected therapeutics covered over 80% of the posterior eye surface across the EVSC. Multicolor imaging demonstrated that injected dyes were localized in the matrix between the choroidal blood vessels. SD-OCT analysis revealed no retinal detachment, choroidal hemorrhages or inflammation up to 10 week following cell transplantation. These findings were supported by histology analysis.
Conclusions: Multimodal imaging including infra-red and multicolor fundus imaging as well as SD-OCT enables longitudinal monitoring of safety and efficacy of therapeutics delivery into the EVSC. Moreover, these imaging techniques enable to quantitatively determine the distribution of injected therapeutics in the EVSC.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.