Abstract
Devices resident in the stomach—used for a variety of clinical applications including nutritional modulation for bariatrics,
ingestible electronics for diagnosis and monitoring, and gastric-retentive dosage forms for prolonged drug delivery—typically
incorporate elastic polymers to compress the devices during delivery through the oesophagus and other narrow orifices in
the digestive system. However, in the event of accidental device fracture or migration, the non-degradable nature of these
materials risks intestinal obstruction. Here, we show that an elastic, pH-responsive supramolecular gel remains stable and
elastic in the acidic environment of the stomach but can be dissolved in the neutral-pH environment of the small and large
intestines. In a large animal model, prototype devices with these materials as the key component demonstrated prolonged
gastric retention and safe passage. These enteric elastomers should increase the safety profile for a wide range of gastricretentive
devices.