Application of affinity peptides in stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation, synovial inflammation, and subchondral bone changes, leading to chronic pain and functional impairment. Current treatments primarily alleviate symptoms but fail to halt disease progression or achieve cartilage regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy due to their multipotency, self-renewal capacity, and paracrine activities. However, the clinical application of MSC-based therapies is hindered by low homing efficiency, poor survival, and rapid clearance after intra-articular injection. Affinity peptides, short amino acid sequences identified via techniques like phage display, offer a novel solution to these challenges. These peptides exhibit high specificity and biocompatibility, and can be readily conjugated to biomaterials or stem cells. By modifying scaffolds or MSC surfaces, affinity peptides significantly enhance cell recruitment, adhesion, and retention at the injury site. This review outlines the current applications and limitations of MSCs in OA therapy and highlights the role of affinity peptides in improving cell delivery and tissue regeneration. Peptide-enhanced strategies represent a targeted, effective approach for advancing OA treatment, holding considerable potential for clinical translation in regenerative medicine.