Chinese scientists have achieved a major breakthrough by developing “smart living glue” for the treatment of intestinal diseases.
According to foreign media reports, this new “living smart glue” is made of programmed bacteria and is expected to prove highly beneficial for the treatment of intestinal disorders. The bacteria work efficiently by moving on their own inside the intestines, identifying wounds, and helping to bind and heal them.
This development is being described as an advanced method for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Research in this regard was published yesterday in the internationally renowned scientific journal Nature Biotechnology.
Researchers genetically modified a harmless bacterium naturally found in the intestines, E coli, in a way that it becomes active only under specific conditions and proves beneficial for wound healing.
This remarkable research was jointly conducted by experts from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology and Shenzhen University.
Scientists added a special genetic circuit to the bacteria that activates only when blood is present in the intestines, which is a key sign of severe inflammatory bowel disease, internal wounds, and bleeding.
The research explained that as soon as the bacteria detect the presence of blood, they release a highly adhesive protein similar to a substance derived from the marine organism barnacle.
This protein forms a strong protective layer at the bleeding site, which not only helps stop the bleeding but also releases healing factors to repair the inner lining of the intestines. The engineered bacteria are prepared in liquid form and introduced into the body through the mouth or rectum.
Notably, after reaching the intestines, these bacteria form a film like structure and attach only to the affected and bleeding areas, where they play an effective role in stopping bleeding and restoring tissues.
The research team now plans to take this “living glue” to human trials, which in the future could prove to be a safe, effective treatment for patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases and potentially save many lives.
