Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Volume 23, Issue 14, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147833
Keywords
cornea; biophysics; ultrastructure; biomechanics; AFM
Funding
- Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of Rio de Janeiro State (FAPERJ) (Cientista do Nosso Estado) [E-26/200.815/2021]
- CNPq [4/2021, 304774/2021-9]
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This study used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to evaluate four layers of the cornea and analyze their adhesion, stiffness, and roughness. The findings revealed microvilli in the epithelial and endothelial layers, pores in the basement membrane, and collagen fibers in the stroma. These data contribute to a better understanding of the ultrastructures of the human cornea layers and provide new information about their biophysical properties.
The cornea is an avascular, innervated, and transparent tissue composed of five layers: the epithelium, Bowman's layer, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. It is located in the outermost fraction of the eyeball and is responsible for the refraction of two-thirds of light and protection from external mechanical damage. Although several studies have been done on the cornea on the macroscopic scale, there is a lack of studies on the micro-nanoscopic scale, especially an analysis evaluating the cornea layer by layer. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to assess four layers that form the cornea, analyzing: adhesion, stiffness, and roughness. The results showed microvilli in the epithelial and endothelial layers, pores in the basement membrane, and collagen fibers in the Stroma. These data increase the knowledge about the human cornea layers' ultrastructures and adds new information about its biophysical properties.
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