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Quantifying the Mechanical Properties of the Endothelial Glycocalyx with Atomic Force Microscopy

Quantifying the Mechanical Properties of the Endothelial Glycocalyx with Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: February 21, 2013

Modeling the Endothelial Glycocalyx Layer in the Human Conventional Aqueous Outflow Pathway.

Alireza Karimi¹, Mahdi Halabian¹, Reza Razaghi¹

¹Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.

|December 11, 2022

Summary

The eye's conventional outflow pathway has a charged glycocalyx layer that influences aqueous humor flow. This layer plays a minor role in regulating intraocular pressure (IOP) and outflow resistance.

Keywords:

Schlemm’s canal aqueous outflow resistance electro-fluid–structure interaction endothelial glycocalyx layer juxtacanalicular tissue trabecular meshwork

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Area of Science:

Ocular Biomechanics
Fluid Dynamics
Cell Biology

Background:

The glycocalyx, a layer of proteoglycans and glycoproteins, covers key structures in the eye's aqueous humor outflow pathway.
This layer is implicated in mechanotransduction and regulating outflow resistance, a primary determinant of intraocular pressure (IOP).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the biomechanical role of the endothelial glycocalyx layer in the conventional aqueous outflow pathway.
To model the electrical-fluid-structure interaction (EFSI) within the trabecular meshwork (TM), juxtacanalicular tissue (JCT), and Schlemm's canal (SC).

Main Methods:

A 3D microstructural finite element (FE) model of the human eye's TM/JCT/SC complex was developed.
The model incorporated a charged double layer representing the glycocalyx and modeled aqueous humor as electroosmotic flow.
The electrical-fluid-structure interaction (EFSI) method was employed to couple the glycocalyx, aqueous humor, and outflow tissues.

Main Results:

Elevated IOP (15 mmHg) in the EFSI model showed a 9% decrease (2.35 mm/s) in maximum aqueous humor velocity compared to a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model.
The charged endothelial glycocalyx layer demonstrated a minor influence on biomechanical stresses, strains, and aqueous humor hydrodynamics.

Conclusions:

The electrical charge of the endothelial glycocalyx layer has a limited but measurable impact on the biomechanics and hydrodynamics of the conventional aqueous outflow pathway.
Further research may elucidate the full functional significance of the glycocalyx in ocular fluid dynamics and IOP regulation.