Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiation
Abstract Far UV-C radiation (200–240 nm) is a promising alternative to conventional UV-C for disinfection in occupied spaces, offering strong germicidal efficacy with reduced skin risk. However, its ocular safety remains unclear, as most studies relied only on non-human corneal models with physiolog...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09241-2 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849400032116080640 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniela F. Zamudio Díaz Patricia Hülse Johannes Schleusener Anja A. Kühl Anna Lena Klein Loris Busch Lalita Roscetti Martin Guttmann Sascha Rohn Thomas A. Fuchsluger Martina C. Meinke |
| author_facet | Daniela F. Zamudio Díaz Patricia Hülse Johannes Schleusener Anja A. Kühl Anna Lena Klein Loris Busch Lalita Roscetti Martin Guttmann Sascha Rohn Thomas A. Fuchsluger Martina C. Meinke |
| author_sort | Daniela F. Zamudio Díaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Far UV-C radiation (200–240 nm) is a promising alternative to conventional UV-C for disinfection in occupied spaces, offering strong germicidal efficacy with reduced skin risk. However, its ocular safety remains unclear, as most studies relied only on non-human corneal models with physiological differences. This study investigated UV-induced DNA damage in the epithelium, stroma, and endothelium of ex vivo human corneas and porcine corneas, and reconstructed human cornea epithelium (RHCE) using immunohistochemistry. Samples were exposed to 222 nm, 233 nm, 254 nm, and broadband UV-B (280–400 nm) radiation in the presence of real human tears. Compared to human corneas (26 μm mean epithelium thickness), porcine corneas (110 μm) and RHCE (79 μm), showed reduced UV penetration. In human corneas with a thin epithelium, far UV-C exposure led to epithelial and anterior stromal damage, underscoring the epithelium’s protective function. Optical properties using porcine corneas confirmed the immunohistological findings, validating wavelength-dependent penetration depths. Simulations suggest that in intact human corneas, damage-relevant intensity of 222 nm light reaches the middle of the epithelium, while for 233 nm, it reaches the basal layer. These findings support the relative safety of far UV-C, especially 222 nm, for intact corneas. However, potential DNA damage accumulation after repeated exposures underscores the need for further research on long-term ocular effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0158d65c5b3d4cf98d89120cc0a8f4e2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-0158d65c5b3d4cf98d89120cc0a8f4e22025-08-20T03:38:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-09241-2Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiationDaniela F. Zamudio Díaz0Patricia Hülse1Johannes Schleusener2Anja A. Kühl3Anna Lena Klein4Loris Busch5Lalita Roscetti6Martin Guttmann7Sascha Rohn8Thomas A. Fuchsluger9Martina C. Meinke10Institute of Food Technology and Food Chemistry, Faculty III Process Sciences, Technische Universität BerlinKlinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsmedizin RostockCenter of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin iPATH.Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinCenter of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinCenter of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinCenter of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinFerdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH)Institute of Food Technology and Food Chemistry, Faculty III Process Sciences, Technische Universität BerlinKlinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsmedizin RostockCenter of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinAbstract Far UV-C radiation (200–240 nm) is a promising alternative to conventional UV-C for disinfection in occupied spaces, offering strong germicidal efficacy with reduced skin risk. However, its ocular safety remains unclear, as most studies relied only on non-human corneal models with physiological differences. This study investigated UV-induced DNA damage in the epithelium, stroma, and endothelium of ex vivo human corneas and porcine corneas, and reconstructed human cornea epithelium (RHCE) using immunohistochemistry. Samples were exposed to 222 nm, 233 nm, 254 nm, and broadband UV-B (280–400 nm) radiation in the presence of real human tears. Compared to human corneas (26 μm mean epithelium thickness), porcine corneas (110 μm) and RHCE (79 μm), showed reduced UV penetration. In human corneas with a thin epithelium, far UV-C exposure led to epithelial and anterior stromal damage, underscoring the epithelium’s protective function. Optical properties using porcine corneas confirmed the immunohistological findings, validating wavelength-dependent penetration depths. Simulations suggest that in intact human corneas, damage-relevant intensity of 222 nm light reaches the middle of the epithelium, while for 233 nm, it reaches the basal layer. These findings support the relative safety of far UV-C, especially 222 nm, for intact corneas. However, potential DNA damage accumulation after repeated exposures underscores the need for further research on long-term ocular effects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09241-2CorneaFar UV-CDNA damageOptical propertiesPenetration depth |
| spellingShingle | Daniela F. Zamudio Díaz Patricia Hülse Johannes Schleusener Anja A. Kühl Anna Lena Klein Loris Busch Lalita Roscetti Martin Guttmann Sascha Rohn Thomas A. Fuchsluger Martina C. Meinke Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiation Scientific Reports Cornea Far UV-C DNA damage Optical properties Penetration depth |
| title | Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiation |
| title_full | Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiation |
| title_fullStr | Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiation |
| title_short | Corneal safety assessment of germicidal far UV-C radiation |
| title_sort | corneal safety assessment of germicidal far uv c radiation |
| topic | Cornea Far UV-C DNA damage Optical properties Penetration depth |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09241-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielafzamudiodiaz cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT patriciahulse cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT johannesschleusener cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT anjaakuhl cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT annalenaklein cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT lorisbusch cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT lalitaroscetti cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT martinguttmann cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT sascharohn cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT thomasafuchsluger cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation AT martinacmeinke cornealsafetyassessmentofgermicidalfaruvcradiation |