Bingzhe Xu

Heterotopic ossification (HO) of the Achilles tendon induces pain and impairs tendon mechanical function, yet its pathogenic mechanisms remain largely unknown. Given that neurotransmitters, inflammatory cytokines, and mechanical loading are highly associated with HO incidence, we raised a hypothesis that activation of sensory neurons within the injured Achilles tendon may be one critical cause driving HO progression. This present work demonstrates that Netrin‐1, predominantly secreted by macrophages at the injured site, profoundly promotes the regeneration of Piezo2‐expressing sensory nerves in the Achilles tendon of mice after puncture. This is accompanied by an aberrant rise in the pro‐osteogenic neuropeptide calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) in both sensory nerves at the injury site and the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), particularly under the synergistic influence of mechanical stimulation and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a pro‐inflammatory cytokine initially produced by macrophages. Consequently, osteogenic differentiation of tendon‐derived stem cells (TDSCs) is enhanced, which in turn further stimulates PGE2 secretion from osteoblasts. Of note, such an effect and subsequent HO formation can be significantly attenuated by tail suspension treatment or by blocking signaling pathways mediated by CGRP, Netrin‐1, PGE2, or Piezo2. Together, these findings elucidate the crosstalk among macrophages, osteoblasts, and Piezo2 ⁺ sensory neurons in the injured Achilles tendon, highlighting the critical role of sensory hyperinnervation in promoting HO progression.

Intracellular crowding, a crucial biophysical parameter linked to tumor progression, can serve as a potential marker for phenotyping. Conventional intracellular crowding‐sensing approaches, particularly genetically encoded implementations, often rely on transfection reagents or other introduction procedures, which may perturb the native microenvironment and compromise measurement accuracy. Herein, we design a DNA biosensor with a DNA tetrahedron scaffold and a flexible ssDNA‐FRET element, achieving near‐physiological crowding sensing via a chemical‐driven soft‐matter response. Cy3/Cy5‐conjugated ssDNA aggregates more tightly with increased crowding, shortening the interfluorophore distance to trigger quantifiable FRET signals, validating the structure‐dependent correlation between flexible soft‐matter agglomeration and crowding degree via simulations, PEG experiments, and FRET characterization. The tetrahedron enables transfection‐agent‐free delivery, avoiding reagent drawbacks. We achieved multivariate statistical discrimination of six cell lines based on osmotic‐stress‐induced FRET fingerprints via osmotic pressure‐induced crowding variations, confirming cellular crowding as a hallmark of functional heterogeneity. This work advances soft matter‐based biosensing and tumor biophysics. [Correction added on October 10, 2026, after first online publication: The preceding sentence has been updated.]

Electric field tumor therapy has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), but its clinical efficacy is severely limited by skull-induced attenuation of electric field intensity. To overcome this limitation, we developed a multilayer thin-film sonoelectric meningeal device (MF-SMD) consisting of an electrospun PLGA artificial meningeal scaffold integrated with a microneedle-based triboelectric film. This device converts externally applied low-intensity ultrasound into intracranial electric fields, enabling transcranial, localized, and controllable electric ablation of brain tumors. Upon low-intensity ultrasound excitation, the film generates localized intracranial electric fields that disrupt tumor mitosis while preserving neuronal integrity, and significantly reduce skull-induced field attenuation. In vitro and in vivo experiments validated the antitumor efficacy of the device, achieving approximately 68% proliferation inhibition in clinical GBM cell lines and a 72% reduction in tumor burden in orthotopic mouse models. Notably, compared with conventional tumor treating fields (TTF) systems that employ extracranial electrodes, the MF-SMD maintained electric field attenuation below 20% at therapeutic frequencies. These results establish a novel therapeutic paradigm that overcomes skull-induced electric field attenuation, addressing a key challenge in transcranial brain tumor therapy.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well‐established treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), yet its traditional approaches involving craniotomy and battery implants are highly invasive and pose significant clinical risks. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel wireless endovascular DBS system (WE‐DBS) that enables minimally invasive, battery‐free stimulation via a vascularly implanted stent electrode and ultrasound‐powered wireless energy transmission. In an MPTP‐induced PD mouse model, WE‐DBS treatment significantly enhanced motor performance and protected dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Comprehensive electrophysiological characterization confirmed the generation of therapeutically relevant electric fields at the subthalamic nucleus target, with safe charge injection capabilities. Histological analysis revealed no significant tissue damage or neuroinflammation. These results demonstrate WE‐DBS as a promising, minimally invasive alternative for effective and safe neuromodulation in PD.

Technologies for sensing and translating throat signals into speech have advanced the communication for people with vocal impairments. However, the practical deployment of these technologies is currently hindered by tethered system, bulky components and the lack of emotional recognition capability. Here, we demonstrate a wireless, battery‐free artificial throat patch system (ATPS) coupling with deep learning method to enable simultaneous recognition of speech and emotion. The sensing module of the ATPS integrates a carbon nanotube‐based thin‐film strain sensor and a miniaturized flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). Real‐time sensing and transmission of throat signals is facilitated by a smartphone‐linked system incorporating an FPCB with an embedded near‐field communication antenna and low‐power electronic components. Furthermore, the information‐rich sensor readouts are further extracted and successfully demonstrated to be sufficient to emotional recognition of speech by implementing a hybrid deep learning architecture. This proposed system expands the arsenal of tools available for mute patients in speech recognition and communication and further realizes personalized clinical implementations.

Neural-tumor electrophysiology—marked by pathological membrane potentials and ion channel dysregulation—emerges as actionable targets to curb tumor aggression. Yet, how neural-driven bioelectrical crosstalk dynamically regulates tumors within functional circuits remains elusive, demanding tools for real-time interaction decoding. Here, we present a machine learning-driven electrophysiological platform that integrates custom microfluidics with real-time decoding of complex neural-tumor signal dynamics. Our findings show that glioma cells selectively hijack specific subsets of neural signals, reshaping waveform properties and synchronizing their firing events with neural activity. This dynamic interaction plays a critical role in boosting glioma invasiveness, as tumor cells harness neural activity to promote their progression. Notably, targeted stimulation of glioma cells with these hijacked signal patterns—without direct neural involvement—is sufficient to induce hyper-invasive behavior, emphasizing the role of these electrical cues as drivers of tumor aggression.

Neural-tumor electrophysiology—marked by pathological membrane potentials and ion channel dysregulation—emerges as actionable targets to curb tumor aggression. Yet, how neural-driven bioelectrical crosstalk dynamically regulates tumors within functional circuits remains elusive, demanding tools for real-time interaction decoding. Here, we present a machine learning-driven electrophysiological platform that integrates custom microfluidics with real-time decoding of complex neural-tumor signal dynamics. This innovative approach reveals how glioma cells selectively hijack specific neural electrical patterns, synchronizing neural and tumor firing to drive hyper-invasive behavior. Critically, we demonstrate that glioma cells do not respond indiscriminately to spontaneous neural activity; instead, they selectively hijack specific subsets of neural signals, reshaping waveform properties and synchronizing neural and tumor firing events. This entrainment significantly enhances glioma invasiveness, establishing an interactive dynamic wherein glioma cells not only respond to but actively manipulate neural signals. Strikingly, targeted stimulation of glioma cells with these hijacked signal patterns—without direct neural involvement—was sufficient to induce hyper-invasive behavior, emphasizing the role of these electrical cues as drivers of tumor aggression. Our platform pioneers a novel methodology for real-time analysis of tumor-neural interactions, offering a translational toolkit that bridges mechanistic insights into glioma biology and therapeutic innovation targeting neural-tumor communication.

Precise modulation of the cell cycle via electromagnetic (EM) control presents a groundbreaking approach for cancer therapy, especially in the development of personalized treatment strategies. EM fields can precisely regulate key cellular homeostatic mechanisms such as proliferation, apoptosis, and repair by finely tuning parameters like frequency, intensity, and duration. This review summarizes the mechanisms through which EM fields influence cancer cell dynamics, highlighting recent developments in high-throughput electromagnetic modulation platforms that facilitate precise cell cycle regulation. Additionally, the integration of electromagnetic modulation with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, immunotherapy, and nanotechnology is explored, collectively enhancing targeting precision, immune activation, and therapeutic efficacy. A systematic analysis of existing clinical studies indicates that EM modulation technology significantly overcomes key challenges such as tumor heterogeneity, microenvironment complexity, and treatment-related adverse effects. This review summarizes the prospects of electromagnetic modulation in clinical translation and future research directions, emphasizing its critical potential as a core element in individualized and multimodal cancer treatment strategies.

Implantable devices that integrate advanced nanomaterials with wireless energy systems represent a transformative approach to tackling brain tumors. Here, a millimeter‐scale implantable device based on an MXene/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel is introduced, designed for precise and minimally invasive brain tumor therapy via tunable alternating electric fields. This device presents a novel approach by combining ultrasonic wireless energy transfer with triboelectric energy harvesting, eliminating the need for in vivo batteries and enabling continuous operation in a completely wireless manner. The system not only optimizes energy harvesting efficiency but also ensures the localized delivery of therapeutic electric fields directly to the tumor site. Its compact size and mechanical flexibility allow for precise implantation in the complex brain environment, offering a minimally invasive solution with enhanced safety and adaptability. Preclinical evaluations using U‐87 MG orthotopic glioblastoma models demonstrate significant tumor growth inhibition and a marked improvement in survival rates, underscoring its therapeutic potential.

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.