For millions living with arthritis, everyday adventures such as woodland strolls or coastal rambles can be cut short by pain and stiffness. A breakthrough from Cambridge researchers could change that.
They have developed a new smart gel designed to sense joint flare-ups and release medication only when it’s needed, paving the way for more comfortable hikes and time spent outdoors.
The squishy, gel-like material can respond to subtle changes in PH in the body. During an arthritis flare-up a joint becomes slightly more acidic, prompting the release of drugs precisely where and when they are needed.
As acidity increases, the squishy new material becomes more jelly-like and soft, and can trigger the release of the drug molecules inside it.
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It could be used as artificial cartilage in arthritic joints, improving the efficacy of drugs to relieve pain and fight inflammation. Unlike many delivery systems that rely on external triggers such as heat or light, this one is powered by the body’s own chemistry.
The material was developed by Professor Oren Scherman’s research group in Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry.
While extensive clinical trials are needed before the material can be used in patients, they hope that the work, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, will be a step towards improving outcomes for people with arthritis, and for those with other conditions such as cancer.
“For a while now, we’ve been interested in using these materials in joints, since their properties can mimic those of cartilage,” said Scherman. “But to combine that with highly targeted drug delivery is a really exciting prospect.”
“These materials can ‘sense’ when something is wrong in the body and respond by delivering treatment right where it’s needed,” said first author Dr Stephen O’Neill. “This could reduce the need for repeated doses of drugs, while improving patient quality of life.
More than 10 million people in the UK live with arthritis, a condition that costs the NHS an estimated £10.2 billion annually. Globally, more than 600 million people are affected.
