Scientists have developed an innovative injectable hydrogel inspired by the sticky mucus produced by slugs, offering a potential new approach to repairing gastrointestinal fistulas through minimally invasive procedures.
Gastrointestinal fistulas are abnormal connections between the digestive tract and other organs or surrounding tissues. They can develop following surgery, injuries, inflammatory diseases or cancer and may lead to serious complications.
The new material, developed by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, is designed to seal these openings using an endoscope without requiring conventional open surgery.
The researchers took inspiration from slugs, which produce a special mucus that allows them to stick firmly to wet surfaces. Using this biological principle, they developed a hydrogel that remains in liquid form at room temperature but quickly transforms into a gel when exposed to body temperature.
Once delivered into the body through an endoscope, the material solidifies in approximately 30 seconds. Its design allows one side to attach firmly to internal tissue while the other remains non-sticky, helping prevent unwanted adhesion to surrounding organs.
Laboratory testing showed that the hydrogel could seal a 10-millimetre opening in an isolated pig stomach without leakage. It also demonstrated resistance to stomach acid, antibacterial properties and the ability to shrink rather than swell, helping pull the opening together.
The material was further tested in rats and miniature pigs. In a rat model, researchers reported lower postoperative mortality compared with the other treatment groups. In miniature pigs, a 20-millimetre gastric fistula was completely closed within 14 days following treatment.
The findings, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering on October 30, 2026, suggest that the hydrogel could offer a promising alternative for treating gastrointestinal fistulas.
However, the research has so far been conducted in laboratory and animal models. Further studies are needed to establish its safety and effectiveness in humans before it can become a clinical treatment.
