The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) Advanced Bio and Healthcare Materials Research Division, led by Dr. Ho Sang Jung and his research team, has partnered with Seoul St. Mary's Hospital to develop a technology that uses synovial fluid to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in as little as ten minutes. The journal Small published the study.
Schematic illustration of the body fluid-based rapid diagnosis and differentiation technology for arthritis. Image Credit: Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS)
Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe chronic illness that affects roughly 1 in 100 people throughout their lifetime, whereas osteoarthritis affects more than 50% of people 65 and older, according to some studies.
Accurate differentiation at the early diagnosis stage is crucial because, despite their similar appearances, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have different causes and treatments. X-rays, MRI scans, and blood tests have been the mainstays of diagnosis until now, but they are expensive, time-consuming, and limited in accuracy.
Synovial fluid is a substance found in human joints. The study team concentrated on the variations in the metabolite byproducts of bodily chemical reactions found in this fluid. By examining these metabolic variations, they created a system that can determine the severity of rheumatoid arthritis and differentiate between osteoarthritis and RA in less than ten minutes.
The research team employed surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology, which amplifies molecular optical signals several million times. Using a combination of mathematical algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI)-based analysis, this technology detects the minute substances that cause arthritis by amplifying signals from trace molecules found in synovial fluid.
Using a sensor made of a sea urchin-shaped gold nanostructure formed on a paper surface with high moisture absorption, the team also created a quick and easy diagnostic technique that allows for effective detection through bodily fluids.
The research team tested the technology on 120 patients in partnership with Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. The findings demonstrated that rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis could be identified and differentiated with greater than 94% accuracy. Additionally, the technology was able to determine the severity of rheumatoid arthritis with over 95% accuracy.
These results show that the technology guarantees a high degree of diagnostic accuracy while also drastically cutting down on the time and expense of diagnosing arthritis.
If this technology is commercialized, 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.
Dr. Ho Sang Jung, Study Lead Researcher, Korea Institute of Materials Science
This study was funded by the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program and the Global Young Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), as well as the Materials and Components Technology Development Program of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).
Journal Reference:
Heo, B., et al. (2025) AI‐Assisted Plasmonic Diagnostics Platform for Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis With Biomarker Quantification Using Mathematical Models. Small. doi.org/10.1002/smll.202500264.