A self-charging salt water battery for antitumor therapy

Sci Adv. 2023 Mar 31;9(13):eadf3992. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adf3992. Epub 2023 Mar 31.

Abstract

Implantable devices on the tumor tissue as a local treatment are able to work in situ, which minimizes systemic toxicities and adverse effects. Here, we demonstrated an implantable self-charging battery that can regulate tumor microenvironment persistently by the well-designed electrode redox reaction. The battery consists of biocompatible polyimide electrode and zinc electrode, which can consume oxygen sustainably during battery discharge/self-charge cycle, thus modulating hypoxia level in tumor microenvironment. The oxygen reduction in battery leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species, showing 100% prevention on tumor formation. Sustainable consumption of oxygen causes adequate intratumoral hypoxic conditions over the course of 14 days, which is helpful for the hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs) to kill tumor cells. The synergistic effect of the battery/HAPs can deliver more than 90% antitumor rate. Using redox reactions in electrochemical battery provides a potential approach for the tumor inhibition and regulation of tumor microenvironment.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Hypoxia
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Oxygen
  • Prodrugs* / pharmacology
  • Prodrugs* / therapeutic use
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Water

Substances

  • Oxygen
  • Prodrugs
  • Water