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A sprayable gel could make minimally invasive surgeries simpler and safer


The new GastroShield gel can be sprayed through an endoscope after polyps are removed during colonoscopy, protecting the gut and helping prevent complications from weakened gastrointestinal tissues.

In an animal study, the researchers showed that the GastroShield application integrates seamlessly with current endoscopic procedures, and provides wound protection for three to seven days where it helps tissue to heal following surgery. The gel can also withstand the low pH and enzymatic activity in the digestive tract, and protect tissue from that harsh environment while it heals itself, underscoring its potential for use in other gastrointestinal wounds at high risk of bleeding, such as stomach ulcers, which affect more than 4 million Americans every year. Additionally, it doesn’t require any activation, light, or trigger solution to form the gel, aiming to make endoscopic use easy and fast,” says Muñoz, who is currently leading the translational effort for GastroShield.

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