Epidermal growth factor (EGF) mutants for wound healing and tissue engineering

A team of Stanford engineers has identified first-in-class epidermal growth factor (EGF) mutants with enhanced activity. These mutants can stimulate increased EGF receptor activation at 10-fold lower concentrations than wild-type EGF. They were identified using a novel screening platform with a biological read-out. Their improved mitogenic activity could overcome the current challenge of delivering and maintaining sufficient concentrations of EGF at target sites for applications such as cellular/tissue development or treatment of short-term and chronic wounds. The US patent for this technology issued on October 21st, 2014. (US 8,865,864, "Mutant Epidermal Growth Factor Polypeptides with Improved Biological Activity and Methods of Their Making and Use.")

EGF mutant (point mutations shown in red) mapped onto the crystal structure of EGF (blue) bound to EGFR (grey). This mutant enhances cell proliferation compared to native EGF.

Stage of Research
The inventors have engineered the EGF mutants, characterized their biological activity and demonstrated their effects on human fibroblast cells.