According to a study from Fudan University in Shanghai, a self-charging battery implanted near breast cancer tumors in mice enabled a new class of medications to destroy the cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed.
The battery consumes oxygen through salt water injected into the surrounding area, creating a hypoxic environment that boosts the effectiveness of HAP cancer medications that target hypoxic cells. The tumors in the mice that received both the working battery and HAP treatment decreased by an average of 90%, with four of the mice experiencing complete tumor disappearance after just two weeks, compared to no reduction in tumor size in the other groups.
The battery can operate for up to 500 hours within mouse tissue and could significantly improve the effectiveness of HAP drugs, which have not been approved for clinical use due to limited evidence. However, further research is necessary to assess the risks and benefits of this treatment for humans.