We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Can UVA-light-activated riboflavin-induced collagen crosslinking be transferred from ophthalmology to spine surgery? A feasibility study on bovine intervertebral disc.
- Authors
Vasilikos, Ioannis; Teixeira, Graciosa Q.; Seitz, Andreas; Nothelfer, Julia; Haas, Julian; Wilke, Hans-Joachim; Mizaikoff, Boris; Beck, Jürgen; Hubbe, Ulrich; Neidlinger-Wilke, Cornelia
- Abstract
Background: Collagen cross-links contribute to the mechanical resilience of the intervertebral disc (IVD). UVA-light-activated riboflavin-induced collagen crosslinking (UVA-CXL) is a well-established and effective ophthalmological intervention that increases the mechanical rigidity of the collagen-rich corneal matrix in Keratoconus. This study explores the feasibility, safety and efficacy of translating this intervention in reinforcing the IVD. Methods: Annulus fibrosus (AF) cells were isolated from bovine IVDs and treated with different combinations of riboflavin (RF) concentrations (0.05–8 mM) and UVA light intensities (0.3–4 mW/cm2). Metabolic activity (resazurin assay), cell viability (TUNEL assay), and gene expression of apoptosis regulators C-FOS and PT5 were assessed immediately and 24 hours after treatment. Biomechanical effects of UVA-CXL on IVDs were measured by indentation analysis of changes in the instantaneous modulus and by peel-force delamination strength analysis of the AF prior and after treatment. Results: Different intensities of UVA did not impair the metabolic activity of AF cells. However, RF affected metabolic activity (p < 0.001). PT53 expression was similar in all RF conditions tested while C-FOS expression decreased 24 hours after treatment. Twenty-four hours after treatment, no apoptotic cells were observed in any condition tested. Biomechanical characterizations showed a significant increase in the annular peel strength of the UVA-CXL group, when compared to controls of UVA and RF alone (p < 0.05). UVA-CXL treated IVDs showed up to 152% higher (p < 0.001) instantaneous modulus values compared to the untreated control. Conclusion: This is the first study on UVA-CXL treatment of IVD. It induced significantly increased delamination strength and instantaneous modulus indentation values in intact IVD samples in a structure–function relationship. RF concentrations and UVA intensities utilized in ophthalmological clinical protocols were well tolerated by the AF cells. Our findings suggest that UVA-CXL may be a promising tool to reinforce the IVD matrix.
- Subjects
INTERVERTEBRAL disk; SPINAL surgery; VITAMIN B2; COLLAGEN; CELL survival; FEASIBILITY studies; BOS
- Publication
PLoS ONE, 2021, Vol 16, Issue 6, p1
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0252672