E7 peptide for in situ tissue engineering applications in bone repair

Abstract

In regenerative medicine, leveraging bioactive molecules to enhance endogenous repair mechanisms represents a critical advancement. The E7 peptide, a novel short peptide, has emerged as a key candidate for bone defect repair due to its unique ability to interact with stem cells directly. Unlike traditional tissue‐engineered bone constructs that rely on exogenous cell delivery or scaffold‐based strategies, E7 enables in situ regeneration by actively recruiting and anchoring endogenous stem cells to the defect site. Studies demonstrate that E7‐functionalized materials significantly enhance stem cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation while concurrently stimulating local angiogenesis through VEGF upregulation. These dual effects—stem cell homing and vascularization—address two major bottlenecks in bone repair: insufficient cell supply and poor nutrient diffusion in avascular regions. Despite these advantages, optimizing E7's spatiotemporal presentation and elucidating its signaling mechanisms remain critical. Further investigations into E7's receptor specificity, dose dependency, and long‐term safety will accelerate its clinical translation. It is of great guiding significance to clarify what role. E7 peptide plays in various bone repair materials and which pathways are activated for future research of bone defect repair.