Snail Mucus Applications in Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine

Snail mucus has emerged as a versatile biopolymer with adhesion, hydration and bioactive properties that address multiple stages of tissue repair. Rich in proteins, glycosaminoglycans and peptides, it can form malleable gels that adhere to wet surfaces, promote haemostasis, modulate inflammation and support cell proliferation and migration. Its unique composition enables anti-microbial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, while also stimulating extracellular matrix remodelling and neovascularisation. These combined activities have led to the development of tissue adhesives, hydrogel dressings and bioengineered scaffolds that accelerate wound closure in healthy and compromised settings, such as diabetic ulcers. Recent advances in biochemical characterisation and in vivo models have begun to unravel the mechanisms by which snail mucins influence macrophage phenotype, growth factor expression and collagen deposition, paving the way for translational applications in regenerative medicine.

Research from Nature Portfolio

In 2023, a novel tissue adhesive derived from snail mucus gel was shown to consist of a network of positively charged proteins and polyanionic glycosaminoglycans that adhere to wet tissue via multiple interactions. This bio-adhesive demonstrated excellent haemostatic activity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, and significantly accelerated healing of full-thickness skin wounds in normal and diabetic rodent models. Mechanistic studies revealed that the material promotes macrophage polarisation towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype, reduces chronic wound inflammation and enhances epithelial regeneration and angiogenesis, with its heparin-like glycosaminoglycan component identified as the principal active moiety. In 2021, comparative analyses of mucus extracts from two snail species highlighted that Eremina desertorum mucus exhibits stronger antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities than Helix aspersa mucus. This extract was shown to upregulate TGF-β1 and VEGF gene expression, drive fibroblast proliferation and migration, and lacked cytotoxicity, suggesting its promise as a human therapeutic agent. Foundational in vitro work has also demonstrated that purified snail mucin mixtures exert pro-survival, proliferative and migratory effects on mammalian fibroblasts, accompanied by cytoskeletal reorganisation and cytokine release, thus laying the groundwork for bioengineered scaffold designs.

Snail Mucus Applications in Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in snail mucus applications in wound healing and regenerative medicine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Glycosaminoglycan: A long polysaccharide that contributes to tissue hydration, cell signalling and structural integrity in connective tissues.

Macrophage polarisation: The process by which macrophages adopt different functional states, such as pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory phenotypes.

Angiogenesis: The formation of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, crucial for tissue repair.

Extracellular matrix (ECM): A complex network of proteins and polysaccharides that provides structural support to surrounding cells.

Hydrogel: A three-dimensional polymer network capable of retaining large amounts of water, used as wound dressings or scaffolds.

References

1. A natural biological adhesive from snail mucus for wound repair. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Multi‐Bioinspired Functional Conductive Hydrogel Patches for Wound Healing Management. Advanced Science (2023).
3. HelixComplex snail mucus exhibits pro-survival, proliferative and pro-migration effects on mammalian fibroblasts. Scientific Reports (2018).
4. Antimicrobial efficacy of Egyptian Eremina desertorum and Helix aspersa snail mucus with a novel approach to their anti-inflammatory and wound healing potencies. Scientific Reports (2021).
5. The Protective Effect of Snail Secretion Filtrate in an Experimental Model of Excisional Wounds in Mice. Veterinary Sciences (2021).
6. Snail Slime Extracted by a Cruelty Free Method Preserves Viability and Controls Inflammation Occurrence: A Focus on Fibroblasts. Molecules (2023).