Implanted, Wireless, Self-Powered Photodynamic Therapeutic Tablet Synergizes with Ferroptosis Inducer for Effective Cancer Treatment.

The effective and targeted treatment of resistant cancer cells presents a significant challenge. Targeting cell ferroptosis has shown remarkable efficacy against apoptosis-resistant tumors due to their elevated iron metabolism and oxidative stress levels. However, various obstacles have limited its effectiveness. To overcome these challenges and enhance ferroptosis in cancer cells, we have developed a self-powered photodynamic therapeutic tablet that integrates a ferroptosis inducer (FIN), imidazole ketone erastin (IKE). FINs augment the sensitivity of photodynamic therapy (PDT) by increasing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, they utilize the Fenton reaction to supplement oxygen, generating a greater amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during PDT. Additionally, PDT facilitates the release of iron ions from the labile iron pool (LIP), accelerating lipid peroxidation and inducing ferroptosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated a more than 85% tumor inhibition rate. This synergistic treatment approach not only addresses the limitations of inadequate penetration and tumor hypoxia associated with PDT but also reduces the required medication dosage. Its high efficiency and specificity towards targeted cells minimize adverse effects, presenting a novel approach to combat clinical resistance in cancer treatment.

Printable Zinc-Ion Hybrid Micro-Capacitors for Flexible Self-Powered Integrated Units.

Wearable self-powered systems integrated with energy conversion and storage devices such as solar-charging power units arouse widespread concerns in scientific and industrial realms. However, their applications are hampered by the restrictions of unbefitting size matching between integrated modules, limited tolerance to the variation of input current, reliability, and safety issues. Herein, flexible solar-charging self-powered units based on printed Zn-ion hybrid micro-capacitor as the energy storage module is developed. Unique 3D micro-/nano-architecture of the biomass kelp-carbon combined with multivalent ion (Zn2+) storage endows the aqueous Zn-ion hybrid capacitor with high specific capacity (196.7 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1). By employing an in-plane asymmetric printing technique, the fabricated quasi-solid-state Zn-ion hybrid micro-capacitors exhibit high rate, long life and energy density up to 8.2 µWh cm-2. After integrating the micro-capacitor with organic solar cells, the derived self-powered system presents outstanding energy conversion/storage efficiency (ηoverall = 17.8%), solar-charging cyclic stability (95% after 100 cycles), wide current tolerance, and good mechanical flexibility. Such portable, wearable, and green integrated units offer new insights into design of advanced self-powered systems toward the goal of developing highly safe, economic, stable, and long-life smart wearable electronics.