Arthritis breakthrough – discovery could ease the agony of thousands with achy joints

A revolutionary gel could transform the way arthritis is treated and offer hope to millions living with the painful joint disease.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have created the substance, which behaves like artificial cartilage and releases medicine directly into joints during flare-ups.

Arthritis is a degenerative condition affecting more than 10 million people in the UK.

There are numerous forms of the disease – each with distinct symptoms – but common problems include pain, stiffness, swelling, restricted movement and muscle wasting.

Current treatments are limited to slowing progression or easing symptoms, but many bring only short-term relief and can carry side-effects.

The new gel offers a different approach. It reacts to slight chemical changes that occur during flare-ups in some types of arthritis, turning softer and jelly-like and releasing anti-inflammatory drugs stored inside.

Dr Stephen O’Neil, who led the study, said: ‘These materials can “sense” when something is wrong in the body and respond by delivering treatment right where it is needed. 

‘This could reduce the need for repeated doses while improving quality of life.’

Unlike other treatments that need outside triggers such as heat or light, the gel works with the body’s own chemistry – so in future it could be placed directly into joints to act both as a cushion and as a way of releasing medicine. 

In tests, reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers loaded the gel with fluorescent dye to mimic how drugs behave. 

At acidity levels typical of a flare-up, it released far more dye than at normal levels – showing it can respond directly to inflammation.

Dr Jade McCune, study co-author, 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.’

The team believes the material could also be adapted for other diseases, including cancer. 

Future versions might combine fast-acting and slow-release drugs to provide a single treatment lasting days, weeks or even months.

The next step will be testing the gel in living organisms to confirm safety and effectiveness. 

If successful, experts say it could open the door to a new generation of treatments for chronic illnesses.

Arthritis alone costs the NHS an estimated £10.2 billion a year, and more than 600 million people worldwide are thought to be living with the condition.  

The news comes as scientists make other promising strides in arthritis research.

In April, an international team led by Helmholtz Munich and Rush University in Chicago published the largest ever genetic study of osteoarthritis, involving almost two million people.

The researchers uncovered hundreds of new genetic clues to the condition, including 513 never seen before. Many of the genes they identified are already targeted by existing medicines, meaning drugs currently on the market could potentially be repurposed far more quickly to help arthritis patients.

Experts say the discovery could speed up the development of personalised treatments and open the door to new therapies.