Photochemical tissue bonding

• US 20080009901A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Eye And Ear Infirmary (Foundation of The Massachusetts Eye and EAR Infirmary Incorporated), The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Azar, Dmitri, Kochevar, Irene, Redmond, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/710,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009901A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/214
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00508 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00517 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00853 Laser thermal keratoplasty or radial keratotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00887 Cataract
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0079 using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0081 Transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/001 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents

Abstract

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.

Claims

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/cm².

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic energy is applied at an irradiance less than 3.5 W/cm².

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.