We have identified several peptides through phage-display system and confirmed one peptide that specifically home to osteoarthritic cartilage but not synovium or meniscus. We demonstrated the potentials of this osteoarthritis-targeted peptide to ameliorate the diagnostic and lubricant applications in OA treatment and assist the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) homing to defect site in OA articular cartilage surface, benefiting OA diagnostics and therapeutics.

Review the therapeutic methods applied on osteoarthritis currently, no any treatment addressed on the problem of cells’ homing. We selected one specific peptide chain that targeted to the damaged cartilage, and demonstrated the potentials of OA-targeted peptide to ameliorate the diagnostic and lubricant applications in OA treatment and assist the MSCs homing to defect site in OA articular cartilage.

Our product provides the solution to detect the OA in early stage and the superior lubricant to alleviate joint friction in OA scenario, meanwhile enhance the regeneration efficacy in MSCs transplantation in OA. We achieved (1) demonstrated the superior efficacy to serve as a new MRI contrast agent in an OA model. (2) developed a new-typed joint lubricant. (3) MSCs increased in homing to OA cartilage when delivered by OA-targeted hyaluronate.