Targeted peptide modification of mesenchymal stem cells enhances their therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), derived from the mesoderm, are adult stem cells characterized by self-renewal, multipotency, and low immunogenicity, making them promising candidates for regenerative therapies. Their intrinsic capacity to migrate to sites of injury and differentiate into diverse cell types presents considerable therapeutic potential. Particularly for lung diseases such as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)-a chronic, progressive, and fatal lung condition with limited treatment options. Despite the potential of MSCs therapy, key challenges remain, including poor homing efficiency and limited retention in target tissues, particularly after systemic administration. Current methods do not adequately address these limitations, resulting in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes in IPF treatment. Enhancing the homing and retention of MSCs in lung tissue is critical for maximizing their therapeutic efficacy, yet an effective strategy for overcoming this challenge is still lacking. Methods: Here, the synthesis of SA Results: While the Metabolic Glycoengineering (MGE) approach did not achieve the desired modification results, the co-modification strategy using SA Conclusion: In this study, we developed a cellular modification strategy based on SA