Gastric mucosa is an important physiological barrier of the stomach. Poor eating habits, stress, alcohol, long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and endoscopic submucosal dissection can lead to impaired normal function of gastric mucosa. High-risk alcohol use is a major factor in the global health care burden. Studies have found that excessive drinking and moderate drinking can lead to increased risk of gastrointestinal injury and cancer [[1], [2], [3]]. The underlying mechanisms of ethanol-induced gastric injury have not been well defined. Growing evidence has demonstrated that oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced gastric injury [4]. Severe gastric mucosal injury can lead to ulcers, bleeding, perforation, and even the development of precancerous lesions and gastric cancer. At present, the commonly used gastric mucosal repair pathways mainly use H receptor blockers, proton pump inhibitors and other drugs, as well as endoscopic closure and biomaterial repair, but the efficacy, side effects and recurrence problems of the above methods still exist. The current research mainly focuses on the development of synthetic drugs and the identification and development of plant extracts and phytochemicals of edible plants [[4], [5], [6]]. There is an urgent need to discover novel compounds or therapeutic technologies with efficacy, acceptability and safety. If another way can be found to develop a physical approach from the perspective of physical factor therapy that is harmless to the human body, more effective and has fewer side effects, it may lead to a promising treatment.

Ultraviolet therapy, as a kind of phototherapy, has been widely used in the field of rehabilitation medicine and physical therapy [7,8]. The wavelength range of ultraviolet is 100–400 nm, and the spectrum between 100 and 280 nm is defined as short-wave ultraviolet (UVC), which has obvious photochemical effects and various biophysical effects. UVC has a direct killing effect on pathogenic microorganisms, and can effectively control inflammation, infection and promote wound tissue regeneration [9]. It can be effectively used in treatment of surface infectious diseases (cellulitis, carbuncle, erysipelas, phlebitis, mastitis, paronychia), oral ulcers, wound, bedsores, herpes zoster, etc. [10,11]. Our previous studies have confirmed that 48 s of UVC irradiation can promote the repair of gastric mucosa in chronic gastritis, inhibit inflammatory factors, activate the antioxidant system, and enhance the secretion of pepsin and gastrin [12]. This study will further clarify the efficacy, parameters and related mechanisms of 254 nm UVC in promoting ethanol-induced gastric injury healing.

Concerns about UV-induced cancer have always existed, which largely limits the clinical application and technical development. However, studies have confirmed that UV-induced cancer mainly refers to the possibility of developing skin malignant tumors (squamous cell carcinoma) after long-term and high-dose irradiation of UVB [[13], [14], [15]], but it is not UVC (UVC cannot penetrate the ozone layer through the atmosphere and cannot reach the ground). The clinical application of UVC is not more than 1 min per treatment, and the total course of treatment is up to 3 times. UVC can significantly eliminate inflammation, sterilize and promote tissue regeneration, but it can only be used for the treatment of superficial diseases, which is the limiting factor for the expanded application of UVC indications. Six invention patents have been authorized for the introduction of UVC into the human body, and a UVC gastric irradiation treatment system based on optical fiber and LED luminescence technology has been developed, achieving a breakthrough in introducing UVC into the stomach. In addition, our recent in vitro study found that UVC irradiation for 5 s could completely kill H. pylori on culture dishes. Therefore, UVC may have the effect of killing H. pylori and promoting tissue regeneration in the treatment of gastric diseases. This study will evaluate the effect of 254 nm UVC introduced into the stomach by self-made quartz light guide at different doses and time to promote the healing of injured gastric mucosa, and explore the possible mechanism of its therapeutic effect.

It must be clarified that this investigation was strictly confined to specialized laboratory settings, serving as a short-term experimental validation of UVC-enhanced gastric mucosal repair in animal models. While offering innovative insights about therapeutic radiation parameters, there persists a substantial gap between these preclinical findings and clinical human implementation. Regarding biosafety, we conducted preliminary characterization of UVC irradiation dosage thresholds, though comprehensive validation spanning cellular assays and advanced animal models remains mandatory. Crucially, the clinical translation pivotally depends on overcoming engineering challenges in UVC LED technology – particularly thermal load management during prolonged operation, biocompatible tissue encapsulation architectures, and radiation delivery optimization. These parameters demand rigorous design iterations and technical specification validation to preclude safety compromises in human applications.