title: The role of peptides in bone healing and regeneration: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone tissue engineering and the research surrounding peptides has expanded significantly over the last few decades. Several peptides have been shown to support and stimulate the bone healing response and have been proposed as therapeutic vehicles for clinical use. The aim of this comprehensive review is to present the clinical and experimental studies analysing the potential role of peptides for bone healing and bone regeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Articles presenting peptides capable of exerting an upregulatory effect on osteoprogenitor cells and bone healing were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the available literature, a significant amount of experimental in vitro and in vivo evidence exists. Several peptides were found to upregulate the bone healing response in experimental models and could act as potential candidates for future clinical applications. However, from the available peptides that reached the level of clinical trials, the presented results are limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is desirable to shed more light into the processes governing the osteoprogenitor cellular responses. With further advances in the field of biomimetic materials and scaffolds, new treatment modalities for bone repair will emerge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Ippokratis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pountos
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panteli
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lampropoulos
authors.affiliation: Unit of Musculoskeletal Disease, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, St. James University Hospital, University of Leeds, LS9 7TF, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, ISTITUTO ORTOPEDICO GAETANO PINI, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Calori
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. pgiannoudi@aol.com.|NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital, LS7 4SA Leeds, West Yorkshire, Leeds, UK. pgiannoudi@aol.com.
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Giannoudis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides
keywords: Bone healing; Growth factors; Mesenchymal stem cells; Peptides