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Microstructure and In-Plane Mechanical Property Comparison of Human and Porcine Cornea
Hamed Hatami-Marbini1, Md Esharuzzaman Emu2,3
1Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois Chicago, 2033 Engineering Research Facility, 842 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607.
Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
|June 5, 2025
Summary
Human and porcine corneas exhibit similar mechanical properties without directional anisotropy. However, human corneas show higher tensile strength and distinct microstructural features compared to porcine corneas, necessitating researcher awareness of these biomechanical differences.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Porcine corneas are frequently used as a model for human corneal research due to accessibility and similar dimensions.
- Understanding the biomechanical similarities and differences between human and porcine corneas is crucial for accurate research extrapolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize and compare the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of human and porcine corneas.
- To investigate corneal biomechanics along the nasal-temporal (NT) and superior-inferior (SI) directions.
- To evaluate the suitability of porcine corneas as a model for human corneal biomechanics.
Main Methods:
- Mechanical properties were assessed using biaxial (ElectroForce Planar Biaxial TestBench) and uniaxial (RSA-G2 Solids Analyzer) testing.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to analyze corneal microstructure, including collagen fibril diameter (FD) and interfibrillar spacing (IFS).
- Experiments were conducted along the nasal-temporal (NT) and superior-inferior (SI) directions.
Main Results:
- Neither human nor porcine corneas displayed anisotropic tensile properties in the SI and NT directions.
- Uniaxial tests yielded significantly lower tensile properties than biaxial tests for both species (P < 0.05).
- Human corneas demonstrated significantly higher peak stress and tangent modulus compared to porcine corneas (P < 0.05).
- Human corneal collagen FD, IFS, and lamellar projected thickness were significantly smaller than those of porcine corneas (P < 0.05).
- Lamellar projected thickness differed significantly between species along SI and NT directions (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Human and porcine corneas lack significant directional anisotropy in tensile properties.
- Significant biomechanical and microstructural differences exist between human and porcine corneas, impacting their use as direct models.
- Researchers must be aware of these species-specific mechanical differences for reliable interpretation of corneal research findings.
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