Time-Dependent Molecular Changes in Preserved Rat Corneas Revealed by Raman Spectroscopy
APPLIED SCIENCES, cilt.16, sa.19, ss.1-14, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 19
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/app16199968
- Dergi Adı: APPLIED SCIENCES
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Applied Science & Technology Source, Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Compendex, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-14
- Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Corneal transplantation depends on donor tissue that is stored before use, yet routine assessment of stored corneas relies on structural measures that do not describe the biochemical state of the tissue. In this study, Raman spectroscopy was used to follow molecular changes in rat corneas across 14 days of hypothermic storage. Eighty-four corneas were obtained from 84 Wistar albino rats, assigned to 14 groups according to storage duration, and kept in corneal preservation solution at +4 °C. Harvest was staggered across consecutive days so that all spectra could be acquired in a single session. Five intensity ratios referenced to the amide III band at 1248 cm−1, together with an internal amide I ratio (I1636/I1663), were compared across groups. Every ratio referenced to amide III was highest on Days 1 to 2, declined between Days 3 and 4, and remained relatively stable through Day 14. The absolute intensity of the 1248 cm−1 reference band did not differ statistically significantly across storage durations, which indicates that the decrease in these ratios reflects a reduction in the numerator bands rather than a rise in the reference band. The internal amide I ratio changed by only about ten percent, indicating that the secondary structure of stromal collagen remained comparatively stable. Taken together, the major storage-related molecular changes were concentrated within the first days of preservation, after which the spectral profile reached a plateau. Whether these spectral changes reflect alterations undetected by conventional structural assessment remains unclear. Validation in human donor corneas and correlation with functional and clinical parameters are needed before Raman spectroscopy can be used for nondestructive donor tissue evaluation.