Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide, and osteoarthritis alone affects about 528 million people. This degenerative joint condition can significantly impact the quality of life, causing pain, stiffness, and mobility issues. Scientists have now developed a material that could revolutionize arthritis treatment!
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a material that can sense tiny changes within the body, such as during an arthritis flare-up, and release drugs exactly where and when they are needed! The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Video
Novel treatment for arthritis
The researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a material that is loaded with anti-inflammatory drugs that can be released in response to the changes in pH in the body. For instance, during an arthritis flare-up, the joint can become inflamed and more acidic than its surrounding tissue. This new squishy material developed by the researchers will respond to this natural change in pH. When the acidity increases, the material becomes soft and more jelly-like, triggering the release of drugs encapsulated within the structure. The researchers said that the drug will precisely release when and where needed, as the material only responds within a narrow pH range.
If the material is used as an artificial cartilage, in arthritis patients, it could help in continuous treatment, improve the efficacy of drugs to relieve pain, and fight inflammation. Though extensive clinical trials are needed before the material can be used in patients, scientists are hopeful about its outcomes in arthritis patients, and also for those with other conditions, including cancer.
A miracle material
Developed in Professor Oren Scherman’s research group in Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, the new material has many potential applications.
“For a while now, we’ve been interested in using these materials in joints, since their properties can mimic those of cartilage. But to combine that with highly targeted drug delivery is a really exciting prospect,” Scherman, a Professor of Supramolecular and Polymer Chemistry and Director of the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, said in a statement.
“These materials can ‘sense’ when something is wrong in the body and respond by delivering treatment right where it’s needed. This could reduce the need for repeated doses of drugs, while improving patient quality of life,” Dr Stephen O’Neill, first author of the study, said.
The new material developed by the researchers is unique. Most drug delivery systems require external triggers such as heat or light; however, this new material is powered by the body’s own chemistry, which is why it could revolutionize arthritis treatment. This longer-lasting, targeted arthritis treatment will automatically respond to flare-ups, boosting effectiveness while reducing harmful side effects.
Speaking about the targeted treatment unique to this new material, co-author Dr Jade McCune said, “By tuning the chemistry of these gels, we can make them highly sensitive to the subtle shifts in acidity that occur in inflamed tissue. That means drugs are released when and where they are needed most.”
New material can be tailored for various medical conditions
The researchers are positive that their invention could be tailored to a range of medical conditions by making adjustments to the chemistry of the material. “It’s a highly flexible approach, so we could, in theory, incorporate both fast-acting and slow-acting drugs, and have a single treatment that lasts for days, weeks, or even months,” O’Neill said.
If successful, this approach could lead to a new generation of responsive biomaterials capable of treating chronic diseases with greater precision, according to the researchers.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a material that can sense tiny changes within the body, such as during an arthritis flare-up, and release drugs exactly where and when they are needed! The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Video
Novel treatment for arthritis
The researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a material that is loaded with anti-inflammatory drugs that can be released in response to the changes in pH in the body. For instance, during an arthritis flare-up, the joint can become inflamed and more acidic than its surrounding tissue. This new squishy material developed by the researchers will respond to this natural change in pH. When the acidity increases, the material becomes soft and more jelly-like, triggering the release of drugs encapsulated within the structure. The researchers said that the drug will precisely release when and where needed, as the material only responds within a narrow pH range.
If the material is used as an artificial cartilage, in arthritis patients, it could help in continuous treatment, improve the efficacy of drugs to relieve pain, and fight inflammation. Though extensive clinical trials are needed before the material can be used in patients, scientists are hopeful about its outcomes in arthritis patients, and also for those with other conditions, including cancer.
A miracle material
Developed in Professor Oren Scherman’s research group in Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, the new material has many potential applications.
“For a while now, we’ve been interested in using these materials in joints, since their properties can mimic those of cartilage. But to combine that with highly targeted drug delivery is a really exciting prospect,” Scherman, a Professor of Supramolecular and Polymer Chemistry and Director of the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, said in a statement.
“These materials can ‘sense’ when something is wrong in the body and respond by delivering treatment right where it’s needed. This could reduce the need for repeated doses of drugs, while improving patient quality of life,” Dr Stephen O’Neill, first author of the study, said.
The new material developed by the researchers is unique. Most drug delivery systems require external triggers such as heat or light; however, this new material is powered by the body’s own chemistry, which is why it could revolutionize arthritis treatment. This longer-lasting, targeted arthritis treatment will automatically respond to flare-ups, boosting effectiveness while reducing harmful side effects.
Speaking about the targeted treatment unique to this new material, co-author Dr Jade McCune said, “By tuning the chemistry of these gels, we can make them highly sensitive to the subtle shifts in acidity that occur in inflamed tissue. That means drugs are released when and where they are needed most.”
New material can be tailored for various medical conditions
The researchers are positive that their invention could be tailored to a range of medical conditions by making adjustments to the chemistry of the material. “It’s a highly flexible approach, so we could, in theory, incorporate both fast-acting and slow-acting drugs, and have a single treatment that lasts for days, weeks, or even months,” O’Neill said.
If successful, this approach could lead to a new generation of responsive biomaterials capable of treating chronic diseases with greater precision, according to the researchers.
You may also like
'Beware!': Sanjay Raut warns of 'Nepal-like situation in any country,' tags PM Modi and BJP in post on unrest
'Beat me without any reason': Dalit activist accuses Kerala police of abuse
Assam cracks down on fake doctors; one arrested
Bihar Elections 2025: Posters project Chirag Paswan as NDA's CM face
I moved halfway across the world and there are 3 things I love about the UK
