Photochemical tissue bonding
Photochemical tissue bonding methods include the application of a photosensitizer to a tissue, e.g., cornea, followed by irradiation with electromagnetic energy to produce a tissue seal. The methods are useful for wound repair, or other tissue repair.
1 . A method for creating a tissue seal, comprising:
identifying a tissue in need of repair;
contacting the tissue, and optionally a second tissue, with at least one photosensitizer agent to form a tissue-photosensitizer mixture; and
applying electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer mixture in a manner effective to produce cross linking of a protein in the tissue,
wherein the tissue is not contacted with an exogenous protein or peptide which is cross linked by the application of electromagnetic energy,
thereby creating a tissue seal.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is corneal tissue.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photosensitizer agent is selected from the group consisting of Rose Bengal, riboflavin-5-phosphate, and N-hydroxypyridine-2-(1H)-thione.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photosensitizer agent is Rose Bengal.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step occurs ex vivo.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step occurs in vivo in a subject.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the subject is a human.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer mixture occurs without substantial thermal tissue damage.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer mixture occurs without more than a 3° C. rise in temperature.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer mixture occurs without more than a 2° C. rise in temperature.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application of electromagnetic energy to the tissue-photosensitizer mixture occurs without more than a 1° C. rise in temperature.
12 . A method for repairing a corneal lesion, comprising:
contacting a corneal tissue with at least one photosensitizer agent to form a corneal tissue-photosensitizer mixture; and
applying electromagnetic energy to the corneal tissue-photosensitizer mixture in a manner effective to elicit the production of a reactive species from the photosensitizer,
wherein the corneal tissue is not contacted with an exogenous protein or peptide which is cross-linked by the application of electromagnetic energy,
thereby promoting a partial or complete repair of the corneal lesion.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the corneal lesion is caused by a surgical procedure.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of corneal transplant surgery, cataract surgery, laser surgery, keratoplasty, LASIK, refractive surgery, cornea reshaping, and treatment of corneal laceration.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic energy applied is greater than 200 J/cm 2 .
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied at an irradiance less than 3.5 W/cm 2 .
17 . A method for repairing a corneal lesion in vivo in a living subject, comprising:
contacting a corneal tissue with Rose Bengal (RB) to form a corneal tissue-RB mixture; and
applying electromagnetic energy to the corneal tissue-RB mixture in a manner effective to elicit the production of a reactive oxygen species from the RB,
wherein the corneal tissue is not contacted with an exogenous protein or peptide which is cross-linked by the application of electromagnetic energy,
thereby promoting a partial or complete repair of the corneal lesion.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the subject is a human.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the corneal lesion is caused by a surgical procedure.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of corneal transplant surgery, cataract surgery, laser surgery, keratoplasty, LASIK, refractive surgery, cornea reshaping, and treatment of corneal laceration.
21 . A kit for repairing a corneal lesion comprising:
a photosensitizer agent; and
instructions for photoactivation of the photosensitizer agent to repair a corneal lesion.
22 . The kit of claim 21 , wherein the photosensitizer agent is Rose Bengal.