Bioelectronics for In Situ Monitoring of Tumor Microenvironment Markers

TL;DR

This paper discusses how bioelectronics can be used to monitor the tumor microenvironment in real time, offering new ways to understand and treat cancer.

Contribution

The paper introduces recent advances in bioelectronic sensors for in situ monitoring of tumor microenvironment markers.

Findings

Miniaturized bioelectronics and flexible devices enable high-sensitivity monitoring of TME markers.

Integration with nano-contrast-based imaging could lead to closed-loop cancer therapeutic systems.

These technologies support dynamic and localized tumor biology assessment in preclinical and clinical settings.

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic and heterogeneous niche that critically shapes cancer progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. Characterized by gradients in oxygen tension, pH, and metabolic activity, the TME offers a rich yet underexploited source of real-time biomarkers related to cancer. While conventional imaging techniques often lack the temporal resolution and molecular specificity to capture these rapid physiological changes, emerging miniaturized bioelectronics and multiplexed systems carry promise for in situ monitoring of such TME markers with high sensitivity and spatial precision. This article explores such recent advances in this direction, including bioelectronic sensor design, flexible electrochemical devices, organic transistors, and nanostructured interfaces tailored for TME characterization. Further, a discussion of the convergence of bioelectronics with nano-contrast-based molecular imaging is presented, with prospects for developing closed-loop therapeutic systems for cancer. These technologies offer a transformative platform for precision oncology, enabling dynamic, continuous, and localized assessment of tumor biology across preclinical and clinical settings.

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