Implantable, flexible biophotonic device for wireless photodynamic therapy of postoperative infection and tumor recurrence

Prolonged management of postoperative internal drug-resistant bacterial infections and recurrence of osteosarcoma (OS) is still a formidable challenge in the clinic. Conventional phototherapy medical equipment encounters restrictions in delivering light through biological tissue to reach deep-seated lesions, resulting in poor efficacy. Herein, a minimally invasive and implantable biophotonic system was designed for wireless photodynamic therapy (PDT). Under an adjustable electromagnetic field, this wireless optoelectronic device can sustainably deliver controllable illumination to activate a photosensitizer that generates biocidal reactive oxygen species in deep sites, ensuring long-term, on-demand treatments. It exhibits excellent antibacterial activity both in vitro and in vivo (>99%) and eradicates nearly all biofilms. Meanwhile, the device significantly inhibits over 90% of OS cell growth. Thus, this optoelectronic system overcomes the impediments of conventional PDT with rigid instruments, restricted tissue penetration, and specific medical environments, presenting a convenient and user-friendly next-generation PDT platform for internal diseases.