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. 2017:2017:5192924.
doi: 10.1155/2017/5192924. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Effect of Topically Administered Chitosan- N-acetylcysteine on Corneal Wound Healing in a Rabbit Model

Corinna Fischak  1   2 , Robert Klaus  1   2 , René M Werkmeister  1   2 , Christine Hohenadl  3 , Martin Prinz  3 , Leopold Schmetterer  1   2   4   5 , Gerhard Garhöfer  6
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Effect of Topically Administered Chitosan- N-acetylcysteine on Corneal Wound Healing in a Rabbit Model

Corinna Fischak et al. J Ophthalmol. 2017.

Abstract

Purpose: The present study was performed to investigate the effect of topically administered chitosan-N-acetylcysteine (C-NAC) on corneal wound healing in a rabbit model.

Methods: A total of 20 New Zealand White rabbits were included in the randomized, masked, placebo-controlled experiment. A monocular epithelial debridement was induced by manual scraping under general anesthesia. Animals were randomized to receive either C-NAC two times daily or placebo. Monitoring of corneal wound healing was performed with ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) and epithelial fluorescein staining. Measurements were done immediately after and up to 72 hours after wound induction.

Results: No difference in wound size was found immediately after surgical debridement between the C-NAC group and the placebo group. Wound healing was significantly faster in the C-NAC group compared to the placebo group (p < 0.01 for both methods). A good correlation was found between the OCT technique and the epithelial fluorescein staining in terms of wound size (r = 0.94).

Conclusions: Administration of C-NAC containing eye drops twice daily leads to a faster corneal wound healing in a rabbit model of corneal debridement as compared to placebo. Ultra-high-resolution OCT is considered a noninvasive, dye-free alternative to conventional fluorescein staining in assessing corneal wound healing also in humans.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Area of defect over time after treatment with either placebo or C-NAC. Data are presented individually based on either fluorescein staining of corneal epithelium or optical coherence tomography.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between areas of defect as measured by photography after fluorescein staining or optical coherence tomography.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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