Development of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Mimetic Materials

Growth factors play a crucial role in regulating cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Their activities are tightly modulated to ensure proper physiological functioning, with dysregulation often contributing to disease pathogenesis. Among these, the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system that encompasses IGF-1 and IGF-receptor binding proteins is pivotal in maintaining overall cellular health by regulating growth, repair, and metabolic regulation. Capitalizing on its pro-mitogenic effects, translational studies have focused efforts on developing therapeutics based on IGF-1 for age-related muscle loss, metabolic disorders, or cardiovascular diseases. Mimetic peptide design has emerged as an innovative approach to overcoming limitations of direct IGF-1 therapy, focusing on structural optimization to enhance bioavailability, stability, and receptor specificity. Herein, the development of IGF-1 mimics and their potential clinical applications are reviewed. Their design and molecular properties, including structural considerations and mechanisms of action, are described. In vitro and in vivo approaches analyzed to provide insights into their pharmacokinetics, therapeutic efficacy, and safety profiles in animal models will be delved into. These preclinical studies shed light on the advantages of IGF-1 mimics, such as bioavailability, stability, and delivery, as well as the limitations, including potential immunogenicity.