Self-Powered Algae-Integrated Wearable System for Oxygen Supplementation in Hypoxic Disease Treatment.

Abstract

Hypoxia serves as a critical determinant in the advancement of various intractable pathological conditions including oncological disorders and hypovascular wounds, which may profoundly attenuate the efficacy of pharmacological interventions and substantially inhibit the physiological recovery processes. Consequently, in an effort to mitigate the inherent constraints of conventional methodologies (<i>e.g.</i>, exogenous oxygen delivery systems), a self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based algae-integrated pliable and enveloped device (TAPED) operates as a wearable system to sustain oxygen generation. The TAPED system harnesses biomechanical energy generated through natural bodily movements to energize an integrated luminescent source, enabling controlled photosynthesis for sustained, on-demand oxygen production. The incorporation of TENG technology renders TAPED self-sufficient, eliminating the necessity for external recharging, reducing device mass, and improving convenience for continuous oxygen delivery. Additionally, its body-attachable design circumvents risks associated with direct algal implantation, such as immunogenic reactions and infections. Specifically, experimental application of TAPED has exhibited significant therapeutic efficacy in diverse pathological conditions, including diabetic chronic infected wounds, breast carcinoma tumors, and lactic acid accumulation consequent to strenuous exercise-induced fatigue. Collectively, the TAPED represents an advanced therapeutic approach, which holds substantial potential for translational application within clinical contexts, particularly for enhancing patient prognosis in hypoxic diseases such as oncology and wound management.