Science Matters

Cryopreservation Matters!

Bio-Tissue’s proprietary cryopreservation method, CryoTek®, is the result of more than 30 years of research examining the biology of the Amniotic Membrane and Umbilical Cord. The CryoTek method freezes the tissue to preserve the structural integrity and functional components of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM)1,2,3 while maintaining its natural hydrated state, ensures the retention of its crucial healing capabilities that uniquely promotes the regenerative process. A vital element of the ECM is HC-HA/PTX3, which is an immune-signaling complex known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring, and anti-angiogenic effects.  Other ECM components preserved by the CryoTek method are growth factors, collagen (types I, III, IV, V, and VI), hyaluronic acid, fibronectin, laminin, and proteoglycans. Our tissue products are not dehydrated, which is another way of processing shown to degrade the biologic and limit the tissue’s regenerative capabilities.

Healing the Ocular Surface

Inflammation is a normal phase in the healing process. What is not normal is when inflammation (acute or chronic) becomes uncontrolled, which may halt the healing process altogether or produce scarring. If this happens in or around the eye, patients may suffer permanent loss of vision. The components present in Bio-Tissue® products control inflammation on the ocular surface quickly, safely, and naturally to promote regenerative healing and prevent scarring.

Scientifically Proven Ocular Hygiene Solutions

Aside from our tissue-based products for ocular disease of the anterior segment, we are committed to providing science-backed ocular hygiene solutions as well.  Cliradex® is a natural preservative-free way to keep your eyelids and skin clean, comfortable, and healthy while treating the symptoms associated with blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), rosacea, dry eye, Demodex, chalazia and other eyelid margin diseases. Eye care professionals today recommend several ocular hygiene solutions, many of which may contain some form of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil (TTO), the essential oil derived from the native plant, Melaleuca alternifolia, is characterized by 15 vital components.9,15 Scientific studies have shown that 4-Terpineol, or Terpinen-4-ol (T4O), is the most potent ingredient found in TTO8,9 with even more significant miticidal effects than TTO itself. Cliradex® is the ONLY commercially available product that isolates the main ingredient found in tea tree oil– 4-Terpineol.8-14

Sources

 

  1. Rinastiti M, et al. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2006; 35:247-251.
  2. Jin CZ, et al. Tissue Eng. 2007; 13:693-702.
  3. Niknejad H, et al. Eur Cell Mater. 2008; 15:88-99.
  4. He H, et al. J Biol Chem. 2009; 284:20136-20146.
  5. Data on file, Bio-Tissue, Inc., 2012.
  6. http://www.iovs.org/content/46/11/4079.full.pdf.
  7. Sambursky R, O’Brien TP. MMP-9 and the perioperative management of LASIK surgery. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2011 Jul; 22(4):294-303.
  8. Tighe et al, Terpinen-4-ol is the Most Active Ingredient of Tea Tree Oil to Kill Demodex Mites, Transl Vis Sci Technol, 2013,2(7):2.
  9. Hart et al, Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) suppresses inflammatory mediator production by activated human monocytes, Inflammation Research, 2000; 49: 619-626.
  10. Liu et al, Pathogenic role of Demodex mites in blepharitis, Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 2012; 10: 505-510.
  11. Gao et al, Clinical treatment of ocular demodecosis by lid scrub with tea tree oil, Cornea, 2007; 26(2):136-43.
  12. Cox 2001 Interactions between components of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2001; 91:492-497.
  13. Liang et al, High prevalence of demodex brevis infestation in chalazia, Am J Ophthalmol, 2014; 157(2):342-348.
  14. Huang et al, Ocular Demodicosis as a Risk Factor of Pterygium Recurrence, Ophthalmology, 2013; 120:1341-7
  15. Carson et al, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties, Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 2006; 19(1):50-62.
  16. May et al, Time-kill Studies of tea tree oils on clinical isolates, J Antimicrob Chemother, 2000; 45: 639-643.