The results, published in the journal Small, showed that osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis could be diagnosed and distinguished with an accuracy of over 94%
Experts say a new method using body fluids can now diagnose arthritis in just ten minutes.
The results, published in the scientific journal Small, also showed that osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis could be diagnosed and distinguished with an accuracy of over 94%. The technology achieved over 95% accuracy in determining the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
More than half of all people over the age of 65 experience symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to previous research, while rheumatoid arthritis is known to be a serious chronic disease that affects around one in 100 people over the course of their lifetime.
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Although osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may appear similar, scientists say they differ in both their causes and treatments, making accurate differentiation at the early diagnosis stage “critically” important.
But, until now, diagnosis has relied on X-rays, MRI scans, and blood tests, which are not only time-consuming but also costly and limited in accuracy.
Dr Ho Sang Jung and his research team at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), in collaboration with Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, developed the technology that enables the diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis using synovial fluid, contained in human joints.
The researchers focused on the differences in the composition of metabolites – by-products of chemical processes occurring within the body – present in the fluid.
By analysing the metabolic differences, they developed a technology capable of distinguishing between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis within 10 minutes, as well as assessing the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
The Korean team utilised Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technology, a phenomenon in which the optical signals of molecules are amplified by several million times.
Dr Jung said: “This technology amplifies signals from trace molecules present in synovial fluid and, through a combination of AI-based analysis and mathematical algorithms, detects minute substances responsible for arthritis.”
The team also developed a simple and rapid diagnostic method using a sensor composed of a sea urchin-shaped gold nanostructure formed on a paper surface with high moisture absorption, enabling efficient detection via body fluids.
In collaboration with Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, the research team conducted tests using the new technology on 120 patients.
The researchers say that the findings show that the technology not only significantly reduces the time and cost of arthritis diagnosis, but also ensures a high level of diagnostic accuracy.
Dr Jung, the lead researcher at KIMS, added: “If this technology is commercialised, it will not only aid in diagnosis but also be highly useful in monitoring treatment progress.
“We also plan to continue expanding our research to cover a wider range of diseases in the future.”