Implantable Ultrasound-Powered MXene/PVA Hydrogel-Based Generator for Treatment of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal disease with a poor prognosis due to its strong infiltration, which makes it difficult to remove completely. In this study, an implantable, modulus-tunable, and ultrasound-powered MXene/PVA hydrogel-based tumor treatment device (UP-MPH-TTD), which generates specific electromagnetic alternating fields that disrupt the mitosis of cancer cells without adversely affecting normal neurons is developed. The MXene/PVA hydrogel is used to form a tumor treatment field due to its high biocompatibility, excellent flexibility, and high conductivity, which improves ultrasonic electrical conversion efficiency and significantly reduces the size of the equipment. The implantable UP-MPH-TTD is wirelessly ultrasound-powered, small-sized, lightweight, and simply structured, significantly boosting therapeutic efficiency and reducing restrictions on patient movement. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the device's therapeutic effect, demonstrating a ≈92% inhibition rate in the growth of clinical tumor cells and a 73% reduction in tumor area in tumor-bearing mice. The promising results indicate the broad application potential of the device in the treatment and prognostic improvement of GBM.