STRATEGIE TERAPEUTICHE INNOVATIVE DI RIGENERAZIONE IN OFTALMOLOGIA VETERINARIA E COMPARATA

This veterinary research project focuses on developing innovative techniques for tissue regeneration, particularly in ophthalmology, with an emphasis on corneal tissue repair. The cornea is highly resistant to microbial invasion due to the ocular surface's complex structure and the antimicrobial peptides in the tear film. However, when this barrier is compromised (e.g., by trauma or infection), pathogens can invade, leading to conditions like corneal ulcers. Collagenolytic corneal ulcers are a serious condition that can result in vision loss or blindness and are typically treated with medical therapy or keratoplasty. However, the growing problem of bacterial resistance limits the effectiveness of antibiotics. Therefore, there is ongoing research into alternative therapies, including regenerative approaches that stimulate tissue repair and reduce microbial load. One such therapy is corneal cross-linking, which uses UVA light and riboflavin to strengthen the cornea and reduce liquefaction in collagenolytic ulcers. Another promising approach is plasma medicine, which uses low-frequency, low-temperature ionized gases (such as helium) to disinfect tissues and promote healing. Cold plasmas have been shown to reduce bacterial loads and enhance tissue repair without causing significant damage to cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of helium plasma on the mechanical properties of pig corneas (ex vivo), comparing the results with those of corneas treated with cross-linking. The study found that helium plasma treatment significantly improved the viscoelasticity of the corneas, restoring damaged tissue to a state similar to healthy tissue, even after just 2 minutes of exposure. This suggests that helium plasma may be a more effective treatment than cross-linking for strengthening the cornea and reducing collagenolytic damage. The findings support helium plasma treatment as a promising new regenerative therapy for collagenolytic corneal ulcers and provide a foundation for further studies to correlate mechanical and histological changes in corneal tissue after treatment.