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Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Inactivation of Pathogens via Visible-Light Photolysis of Riboflavin-5′-Phosphate
Published on: April 6, 2022
Reaction-diffusion model as framework for understanding the role of riboflavin in "eye defence" formulations
Francesca Di Nezza1, Ciro Caruso2, Ciro Costagliola1
1Consorzio per Lo Sviluppo Dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (C.S.G.I.), c/o Department of Medicine and Health Sciences V. Tiberio, University of Molise 86100 Campobasso Italy ambroson@unimol.it +39 0874 404715.
Abstract:
Analysis of UV-visible spectra, performed on commercial riboflavin-based eye drops, showed that absorbance is a saturating function of vitamin concentration. This implies a threshold concentration, C t, such that for riboflavin concentration > C t the absorbance remains constant and the effectiveness of the eye drops is independent of the dose used. These experimental results were combined with a diffusion-reaction model to elucidate the mechanism of action within the cornea. The model predicts that the eye drops have a low effectiveness on UVB and UVC, while they have a good performance for UVA. Indeed, at the center of the cornea the transmittance is significantly reduced and after 1 h it is reduced by about 70% compared to a cornea devoid of eye drops.
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