A natural biological adhesive from slug mucus for wound repair

Slugs could secrete mucus with multifunctional characteristics, such as reversible gelation, mucoadhesiveness, and viscoelasticity, which can be harnessed for multifaceted biotechnological and healthcare applications. The dried mucus (DM) was prepared using slug, which can be adhered to the tissue surface through different types of interactions (lap-shear force, 1.1 N for DM-3 group). The DM-3 further exhibited the highest hemostatic ability as discerned in a liver trauma injury model (hemostasis time, <15 s), biocompatibility and biodegradability (an insignificant residue at 4 weeks) in vivo , and considerably improved skin repair in full-thickness excisional wounds (wound closure, 96.2 % at day 14). Taken together, slug's mucus can be easily prepared with an economic and an eco-friendly method, which may have broad biotechnological and healthcare implications and potential utility in other related disciplines. This transition from natural components to the biomaterial may provide an invaluable platform for different types of applications. • A novel natural biological adhesive by extracting slug mucus and fabrication of dried mucus-based scaffolds (DM). • The DM scaffold showed good hemostatic ability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability as well as promoted wound repair. • The slug mucus-based scaffold is a cost-effective, easy-to-procure, eco-friendly, and cytocompatible non-toxic natural biomaterial. • The remarkable multifunctionality of DM offers an alternative avenue for transformative innovations in biomedicine.