Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogels Loaded with Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Repairing Injured Endometrium and Restoring Fertility

The study presents a novel peptide hydrogel scaffold, self-assembled from peptide IVK8-RGD, designed to deliver umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) for repairing injured endometrium. This hydrogel, which is injectable and adheres to the uterus, supports UC-MSC adhesion and proliferation in a 3D environment. In vivo experiments on rats with endometrial injury demonstrated that the hydrogel loaded with UC-MSCs effectively restores endometrial thickness, reduces fibrosis, and promotes angiogenesis by activating the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway. This leads to improved fertility and live birth rates, highlighting the hydrogel's potential to address infertility and recurrent miscarriage due to endometrial damage.