Exploring Corneal Neovascularization: An Integrated Approach Using Transcriptomics and Proteomics in an Alkali Burn Mouse Model.

Purpose: Corneal neovascularization (CNV) impairs corneal transparency and visual acuity. The study aims to deepen our understanding of the molecules involved in CNV induced by alkali burns, facilitate a better grasp of CNV mechanisms, and uncover potential therapeutic targets.

Methods: Eighty-four mice were selected for establishing CNV models via alkali burns.

Assessment interocular symmetry of peripapillary vessel density in young myopes with optical coherence tomographic angiography.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the interocular symmetry and distribution of peripapillary vessel density in young myopic eyes.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was designed. A total of 174 eyes of 87 young myopic patients were recruited in this study.

Proteomic profiling of human corneal stroma from long-term contact lens wearers reveals activation of inflammatory responses.

Purpose: To investigate the association between proteomic changes and potential pathogenesis in the human cornea with respect to the duration of wearing soft contact lenses (SCLs).

Methods: A total of 96 corneal stroma samples, obtained via small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE), were equally grouped according to the duration of wearing SCL: 0Y, did not wear SCL; 5Y, wore SCL for<5 years; 5-10Y, wore SCL for 5-10 years; O10Y, wore SCL for>10 years. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantify protein profiles in the corneal stroma.

Effects of diabetes mellitus on biomechanical properties of the rabbit cornea.

To investigate the effects of diabetes on the biomechanical behavior of cornea in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced in 20 rabbits using alloxan, while another 20 age- and weight-matched non-diabetic rabbits served as controls. Eyes were enucleated after 8 weeks of inducing diabetes and the whole cornea was removed with a 3 mm wide scleral ring and tested under inflation conditions with an internal pressure range of 2.

[The research advance of measuring techniques on corneoscleral constitutive parameters].

The occurrence and development of myopia and keratoconus is closely related to the changes of scleral and corneal biomechanical properties. The accurate measurement of biomechanical properties for corneoscleral tissure is very important on diagnosis of eye diseases, improvement of ocular operation, ocular biological parameter measurement and invention of ophthalmic instrument. Corneoscleral tissue, composed of bundles of compact and staggered collagen fiber and extracellular matrix, constitute the outer surface of the eyeball.

Clinical Evaluation of Methods to Correct Intraocular Pressure Measurements by the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer, Ocular Response Analyzer, and Corvis ST Tonometer for the Effects of Corneal Stiffness Parameters.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of methods to correct intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained using the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), the ocular response analyzer (ORA), and the Corvis ST tonometer (CVS) for the effects of corneal stiffness parameters: central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal curvature (R), and age in a Chinese population.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected for 99 eyes of 99 participants. Whereas cornea-corrected IOP was obtained directly from ORA (ORA-IOPcc), cornea correction in GAT and CVS was implemented using multiparameter equations developed earlier.

Effect of Misalignment between Successive Corneal Videokeratography Maps on the Repeatability of Topography Data.

Purpose: To improve the reliability of corneal topographic data through the development of a method to estimate the magnitude of misalignment between successive corneal videokeratography (VK) maps and eliminate the effect of misalignment on the repeatability of topography data.

Methods: Anterior and posterior topography maps were recorded twice for 124 healthy eyes of 124 participants using a Pentacam, and the repeatability of measurements was assessed by calculating the differences in elevation between each two sets of data. The repeatability of measurements was re-assessed following the determination of the magnitude of misalignment components (translational displacements: x0, y0 and z0, and rotational displacements: α, β and γ) between each two data sets and using them to modify the second data set within each pair based on an Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm.

Evaluation of the relationship of corneal biomechanical metrics with physical intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness in ex vivo rabbit eye globes.

The relationship of corneal biomechanical metrics provided by the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and Corvis ST (CVS) with physical intraocular pressure (IOPp) and central corneal thickness (CCT) was evaluated. Thirty fresh enucleated eyes of 30 rabbits were used in ex vivo whole globe inflation experiments. IOPp was measured with a pressure transducer and increased from 7.

Modulation of Aβ(1-40) peptide fibrillar architectures by Aβ-based peptide amphiphiles.

Modulation of the fibrillogenesis of amyloid peptide Aβ(1-40) with two Aβ-based peptide amphiphiles has been studied. Both peptide amphiphiles contain two alkyl chains but in different positions. The two alkyl chains of 2C12-Aβ(11-17) are attached to the same terminus of Aβ(11-17), while those of C12-Aβ(11-17)-C12 are separately attached to opposite termini of Aβ(11-17).

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to determine the diffusion coefficient of α-synuclein and follow early oligomer formation.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) can be used to determine the diffusion coefficient of fluorescently labeled α-synuclein. It is a technique based on the use of a confocal microscope. By applying FCS in a combination of short sampling times and repeated measurements, the disappearance of individual α-synuclein molecules (called monomers) and the formation of oligomers can be characterized during the early aggregation process.

Self-assembly of Aβ-based peptide amphiphiles with double hydrophobic chains.

Two peptide-amphiphiles (PAs), 2C(12)-Lys-Aβ(12-17) and C(12)-Aβ(11-17)-C(12), were constructed with two alkyl chains attached to a key fragment of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ(11-17)) at different positions. The two alkyl chains of 2C(12)-Lys-Aβ(12-17) were attached to the same terminus of Aβ(12-17), while the two alkyl chains of C(12)-Aβ(11-17)-C(12) were separately attached to each terminus of Aβ(11-17). The self-assembly behavior of both the PAs in aqueous solutions was studied at 25 °C and at pHs 3.

Effects of inorganic and organic salts on aggregation behavior of cationic gemini surfactants.

All salts studied effectively reduce critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of the cationic gemini surfactants. The ability to promote the surfactant aggregation decreases in the order of C(6)H(5)COONa > p-C(6)H(4)(COONa)(2) > Na(2)SO(4)> NaCl. Moreover, only C(6)H(5)COONa distinctly reduces both the CMC values and the surface tension at CMC.

Molecular conformation-controlled vesicle/micelle transition of cationic trimeric surfactants in aqueous solution.

Two star-like trimeric cationic surfactants with amide groups in spacers, tri(dodecyldimethylammonioacetoxy)diethyltriamine trichloride (DTAD) and tri(dodecyldimethylammonioacetoxy)tris(2-aminoethyl)amine trichloride (DDAD), have been synthesized, and the aggregation behavior of the surfactants in aqueous solution has been investigated by surface tension, electrical conductivity, isothermal titration microcalorimetry, dynamic light scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and NMR techniques. Typically, both the surfactants form vesicles just above critical aggregation concentration (CAC), and then the vesicles transfer to micelles gradually with an increase of the surfactant concentration. It is approved that the conformation of the surfactant molecules changes in this transition process.

Selectivity and stoichiometry boosting of beta-cyclodextrin in cationic/anionic surfactant systems: when host-guest equilibrium meets biased aggregation equilibrium.

Cationic surfactant/anionic surfactant/beta-CD ternary aqueous systems provide a platform for the coexistence of the host-guest (beta-CD/surfactant) equilibrium and the biased aggregation (monomeric/aggregated surfactants) equilibrium. We report here that the interplay between the two equilibria dominates the systems as follows. (1) The biased aggregation equilibrium imposes an apparent selectivity on the host-guest equilibrium, namely, beta-CD has to always selectively bind the major surfactant (molar fraction > 0.

Aggregation behavior of a tetrameric cationic surfactant in aqueous solution.

A star-shaped tetrameric quaternary ammonium surfactant PATC, which has four hydrophobic chains and charged hydrophilic headgroups connected by amide-type spacer group, has been synthesized in this work. Surface tension, electrical conductivity, ITC, DLS, and NMR have been used to investigate the relationship between its chemical structure and its aggregation properties. Interestingly, a large size distribution around 75 nm is observed below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of PATC, and the large size distribution starts to decrease beyond the cmc and finally transfers to a small size distribution.

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation of ammonium surfactant self-assemblies: micelles and vesicles.

Large-scale coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the self-assemblies of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and gemini surfactants 12-S-12 (S = 6, 14, and 20). At the concentrations investigated, the surfactants experience fast aggregation of monomers into oligomers until the cluster numbers reach maxima. For DTAB, larger aggregates grow at the expense of monomers, but for gemini surfactants, the growth of clusters is accomplished via the merging of oligomers.

Molecular dynamics simulations of ammonium surfactant monolayers at the heptane/water interface.

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on the monolayers of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide and gemini surfactants 12-S-12 with S=3, 6, and 12 at the n-heptane/water interfaces. The normal density profiles of the interface show that the distributions of surfactants at the liquid/liquid interface are significantly broader than those at air/water interfaces from comparisons with neutron reflection experiments and previous simulations. The spacers of 12-3-12 and 12-6-12 do not migrate much from the interface, while that of 12-12-12 tends to bend into the oil phase.

Coacervation of cationic gemini surfactant with weakly charged anionic polyacrylamide.

Coacervation of cationic gemini surfactant hexamethylene-1,6-bis(dodecyldimethylammonium bromide) (C(12)C(6)C(12)Br(2)) with 10% hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PAM) has been observed and investigated by turbidity titration, isothermal titration calorimetry, dynamic light scattering and microscopy. Without any assistant additive, the coacervation takes place at very low surfactant concentration, and exists in a broad surfactant concentration range. The morphology of the coacervate sponge phase varies in pore size as a function of C(12)C(6)C(12)Br(2) concentration.

Self-assembly of peptide-amphiphile C12-Abeta(11-17) into nanofibrils.

A peptide-amphiphile (C12-Abeta(11-17)) was constructed with a key fragment of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta(11-17)) attached to dodecanoic acid through an amide bond. The self-assembly behavior of C12-Abeta(11-17) in aqueous solution is studied at 25 degrees C and at pH 3.0 and 10.

Special effect of beta-cyclodextrin on the aggregation behavior of mixed cationic/anionic surfactant systems.

Controllable aggregate transitions are achieved in this work by adding due amounts of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) to mixed cationic/anionic surfactant aqueous solutions. In contrast to its "aggregate breaking" effect in single surfactant systems, aggregate growth is observed in nonstoichiometrical mixed cationic/anionic surfactant systems upon addition of beta-CD. The aggregate growth typically undergoes a micellar elongation and a following micelle-to-vesicle transition, which in turn greatly influences the viscosity and absorbance of the solutions.

Decompaction of cationic gemini surfactant-induced DNA condensates by beta-cyclodextrin or anionic surfactant.

Compaction of DNA by cationic gemini surfactant hexamethylene-1,6-bis-(dodecyldimethylammoniumbromide) (C12C6C12Br2) and the subsequent decompaction of the DNA-C12C6C12Br2 complexes by beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) have been studied by using zeta potential and particle size measurements, atomic force microscopy (AFM), isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC), and circular dichroism. The results show that C12C6C12Br2 can induce the collapse of DNA into densely packed bead-like structures with smaller size in an all-or-none manner, accompanied by the increase of zeta potential from highly negative values to highly positive values. In the decompaction of the DNA-C12C6C12Br2 complexes, beta-CD and SDS exhibit different behaviors.

Highly-ordered selective self-assembly of a trimeric cationic surfactant on a mica surface.

Novel trimeric cationic surfactant tri(dodecyldimethylammonioacetoxy)diethyltriamine trichloride (DTAD) has been synthesized, and its self-assembly morphology on a mineral surface has been studied. From its micelle solution, highly ordered bilayer patterns are obtained on a mica surface, whereas randomly distributed bilayer patches are formed on a silica substrate. The highly ordered bilayer patterns on mica are first caused by the matching of the special structure of DTAD headgroups with the negative charge sites on mica, which leads to the specific nucleation of DTAD on the mica surface via electrostatic interaction.

Micellization-induced conformational change of a chiral proline surfactant.

A proline surfactant including two chiral carbons, sodium N-dodecanoyl-(4R)-hydroxy-L-prolinate (SDHP), has been synthesized, and its micellization behavior in aqueous solution has been investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Two conformational isomers of SDHP, namely, Z and E, are discriminated in the NMR time scale, and critical micelle concentration is derived for each isomer separately. The transformation from E to Z is observed upon micellization, and the amount of Z isomer is approximately three times that of E isomer in the equilibrated system.

Bile salt-induced vesicle-to-micelle transition in catanionic surfactant systems: steric and electrostatic interactions.

The vesicle-to-micelle transition (VMT) was realized in catanionic surfactant systems by the addition of two kinds of bile salts, sodium cholate (SC) and sodium deoxycholate (SDC). It was found that steric interaction between the bile salt and catanionic surfactant plays an important role in catanionic surfactant systems that are usually thought to be dominated by electrostatic interaction. The facial amphiphilic structure and large occupied area of the bile salt are crucial to the enlargement of the average surfactant headgroup area and result in the VMT.