Slug mucus inspires alternative to stitches

SLIMY slug mucus has inspired the development of a new glue that can stick to slippery body tissue and could end the need for stitches.

For many years, scientists have tried to invent an adhesive that can repair wounds, which are often covered in blood. Superglue has been used for decades, but has never been able to help with internal injuries because it is too toxic and will not stick to cells. Researchers at Imperial College London and scientists in the US have now created a glue that is as tough as cartilage, but can cling to internal organs.

The design is based on slug mucus from the Dusky Arion species, which oozes a type of slime that prevents predators prying it from a surface.

The slug slime is so effective because it contains positively charged proteins, which are attracted to surfaces. To create a similar mucus, the scientists made a water-based gel with positively charged molecules protruding from the surface.

Donald Ingber, professor of vascular biology at Harvard Medical School, said: “We are excited to see how this technology, inspired by a humble slug, might develop into a new technology for surgical repair and wound healing.”

The research was published in the journal Science.