Matrix-targeted fusion polypeptides for tissue regeneration and wound healing

Patent Number: 7,459,541

This patent covers a series of fusion proteins that are generated with selectively to bind collagen.  The inventors believe that since various forms of collagen are exposed during injury, the specific targeting of "repair" proteins to the injuried tissue will augment the healing process. 

Specifically the inventors target the "repair proteins": insulin, nerve growth factor (NGF), NGF receptor, epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, neu, wnt-2, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor (c-met) to exposed collagen by making a fusion between these proteins and a specific domain of vWF.

A mouse model of ulcerative colitis is used to demonstrate augmented healing activity of proteins that are targetted to exposed collagen.  

Since this patent is a composition of matter disclosure, numerous pharmacological approaches can be generated that could be used together with existing stem cell technologies to augment post-injury repair.  It will be interesting to combine the fusion peptides disclosed with autologous bone marrow or adipose therapies that are already in clinical trials.

View this patent on the USPTO website.