| Grant number: | 13/20857-3 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Start date: | February 01, 2014 |
| End date: | July 31, 2016 |
| Field of knowledge: | Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery |
| Principal Investigator: | Patrícia Alessandra Bersanetti |
| Grantee: | Patrícia Alessandra Bersanetti |
| Host Institution: | Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| City of the host institution: | São Paulo |
| Associated researchers: | Andreia de Araújo Morandim ; Jivaldo do Rosário Matos ; Paulo Schor ; Regina Freitas Nogueira Carlstron ; Wallace Chamon Alves de Siqueira |
Abstract
In recent decades the application of physical and chemical concepts has led to the development of possibilities of structural changes aimed at greater efficiency and security procedures as the remodeling of the cornea. In keratoconus, the cornea acquires a cone shape due to loosening of the collagen fibrils of the stroma. Some treatments useful in correcting refractive errors show no apparent effect on disease progression. A recent methodology which consists of the application of riboflavin photo-stimulated by ultraviolet radiation at 365 nm, after removal of the epithelium to promote covalent bonds in collagen of the cornea, has been effective in blocking disease progression. The increase of the biomechanical strength and resistance of the cornea is provided by the increased in number of crosslinks between collagen fibrils. In this context, the study and control of cross-links between biomolecules are the basis of this study in which it is intended to develop a method of transformation of corneal properties by the addition of exogenous compounds or structural proteins, without the use of ultraviolet radiation. After the structural change, it will make the determination of physical, biochemical and thermodynamic corneal properties. The project therefore enables integration between the clinical and basic sciences, and has the potential to bring together researchers and undergraduate and postgraduate in various areas of knowledge. (AU)
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