Pill can print healing gel in rabbits’ gut

Researchers in Switzerland have developed a pill that could be guided inside the gut of rabbits and deposit a biocompatible gel, opening the door to a new type of non-invasive medical interventions.  

Injuries in the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers and hemorrhages, can only be treated with invasive surgery. Researchers at EPFL developed a capsule the size of a pill that is capable of depositing a gel made of natural compounds in injuries.  

First, the researchers applied the gel to artificial ulcers and hemorrhages, showing that it could protect the ulcers from gastric acids and stop hemorrhages. They controlled the position of the pill using a magnet and used a harmless laser that can go through the body to “switch on” the release of the gel.  

To check if the process could be done inside the gut, the researchers gave the pill to healthy rabbits and were able to control the position of the pill, guide it to the stomach to deposit the gel, and successfully retrieve it. 

“Next, we plan to extend its capabilities into blood vessels and the tissues of the abdominal wall (peritoneum),” said Sanjay Manoharan, author of the study published in Advanced Science. The gel could also be combined with drugs to improve its therapeutic potential.