# Hydrogel encapsulation of a tissue repair protein to treat chronic wounds

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $471,991

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Wound care is a major challenge to the public health, and the burden is rapidly growing due to increasing
health care costs, an aging population and a sharp rise in the incidence of disease such as diabetes and
obesity that contribute to poor wound healing. While multiple factors may contribute to complications
associated with wound healing, compromised tissue repair represents an underlying cause for non-healing
wounds. A recent series of studies by the investigator’s team identified a novel TRIM family protein named
MG53 as an essential component of the cell membrane repair machinery. Here we provide evidence that
MG53 is a vital component of wound healing and that topical application of recombinant human (rh)MG53
protein has potential to promote healing of chronic wounds. MG53 is capable of nucleating the membrane
repair machinery in keratinocytes, therefore protecting injuries to the epidermis. MG53 present in the
extracellular solution can facilitate migration of fibroblasts in response to scratch wounding, thus contributing to
efficient reepithelization of wound closure. Moreover, we made a novel finding that links circulating MG53 to
the engagement of epithelial stem cells during the chronic and remodeling phase of wound closure. While
epithelial stem cells do not express endogenous MG53 protein, they can take up MG53 from circulation in
response to dermal injury. Therapeutic efficacy of rhMG53 will depend on the formulation as well as the
approaches of delivering MG53. Direct administration of MG53 to the wound site and indirect delivery by
intravascular injection are possible approaches, but will have low efficacy due to the short half-life of MG53 in
blood circulation. It is important that we develop a proper formulation for sustained delivery of rhMG53 to the
wound site in order to enhance therapeutic efficacy. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that MG53
facilitates healing of chronic wounds by enhancing cell membrane repair and epithelial stem cell function, and
hydrogel formulation of rhMG53 represents an effective means for dermal wound healing. Three specific aims
are proposed: a) elucidate the mechanisms that underlie MG53’s function in wound healing (Aim 1); b) develop
hydrogel-based delivery of rhMG53 to treat dermal wound (Aim 2); and c) conduct proof-of-concept study on
rhMG53/hydrogel for chronic wound healing application (Aim 3). Fulfillment of these studies should advance
our knowledge on the biology of MG53 in wound healing and lay the foundation for translational application of
rhMG53 in treating chronic wounds in the elderly population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10251845
- **Project number:** 5R01AG056919-05
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jianjun Guan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $471,991
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10251845

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10251845, Hydrogel encapsulation of a tissue repair protein to treat chronic wounds (5R01AG056919-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10251845. Licensed CC0.

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