Concentration effect on the diffusion of glucose in ocular tissues

In this study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was utilized in the functional imaging of glucose diffusion through scleral tissues. Permeability coefficients for different concentrations of glucose were quantified nondestructively. Obtained results indicate an inverse proportionality between the permeability coefficient and the concentration of the analyte in epithelial tissues: in-depth diffusion of solutions with lower glucose concentration was faster than those with a higher concentration. The permeability coefficient decreased from (1.67±0.17)×10−5 cm/s of 10% glucose solution to (5.08±0.23)×10−6 cm/s of 25% glucose solution. The dependence of the permeability on the concentration of hyperosmotic analytes could potentially be used in various basic science and clinical fields, such as optical clearing of tissues and cells as well as in clinical pharmacology.