Synovial fluid research based on SERS and SERRS for enhanced detection of biomarkers in staged osteoarthritis

• Published in: Journal of biophotonics 2024-06, Vol.17 (6), p.e202400024-n/a
• Main Authors: Wu, Jinjin, Dong, Jiachun, Bao, Yilin, Shang, Linwei, Wu, Qingxia, Yang, Zichun, Wang, Huijie, Yin, Jianhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Arthritis; biomarker; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomolecules; Carotene; Centrifugation; Collagen; Humans; Hyaluronic acid; Male; Middle Aged; Nucleotides; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - metabolism; Phospholipids; Polysaccharides; protein; Raman spectra; resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS); Resonance scattering; Saccharides; Salting; SERS; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Synovial fluid; Synovial Fluid - metabolism; β-Carotene
• ISSN: 1864-063X; 1864-0648
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202400024

Surface‐enhanced (resonance) Raman scattering (SER(R)S) can extremely enhance Raman intensity of samples, which is helpful for detecting synovial fluid (SF) that does not show Raman activity under normal conditions. In this study, SER(R)S spectra of SF from three different osteoarthritis (OA) stages were collected and analyzed for OA progress, finding that the content of collagen increased throughout the disease, while non‐collagen proteins and polysaccharides decreased sharply at advanced OA stage accompanied by the increase of phospholipid. The spectral features and differences were enhanced by salting‐out and centrifugation. Much more information on biomolecules at different OA stages was disclosed by using SERRS for the first time, these main trace components (β‐carotene, collagen, hyaluronic acid, nucleotide, and phospholipid) can be used as potential biomarkers. It indicates that SERRS has a more comprehensive ability to assist SERS in seeking micro(trace) biomolecules as biomarkers and facilitating accurate and efficient diagnosis and mechanism research of OA. Surface‐enhanced (resonance) Raman scattering techniques were used to effectively enhance the signals of synovial fluid (SF), then to analyze and find the diagnostic markers of osteoarthritis (OA). It is found that the collagen and lipid significantly increase in contents with OA progression, while hyaluronic acid and β‐carotene decrease gradually, which can be used as crucial biomarkers for OA research and diagnosis. SERRS shows the ability to discover biomarkers related to OA progression in SF more comprehensive than SERS.