A Stretchable, Transparent, Photothermally Stimulated Laser-Induced Graphene Patch for Noninvasive Skin Tumor Treatment.

Publication date: Mar 05, 2026

Melanoma causes over 80% of skin cancer-related deaths, with conventional therapies hampered by its aggressiveness, metastasis, and drug resistance. Noninvasive, biocompatible strategies are promising for next-generation cancer treatments. Herein, we developed a soft, stretchable laser-induced graphene (LIG)-Cu/PDMS patch, consisting of CuO-embedded LIG (active component) and biocompatible PDMS (flexible matrix). Chemically inert and breathable, the patch minimizes toxic side effects. Upon photothermal activation, it releases Cu that accumulates in melanoma tissue. In a mouse model, two 1-h phototherapy sessions achieved effective tumor suppression within 10 days. Mechanistically, the patch enhances reactive oxygen species production, inducing apoptosis, cuproptosis, and ferroptosis. It also inhibits tumor invasion/metastasis and boosts antitumor immunity, with stable performance enabling multiple uses (energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable). This work demonstrates graphene-based materials’ potential in cancer therapy via synergistic activation of multiple cell death pathways and efficacy in low-temperature phototherapy, expanding graphene’s application in malignant tumor treatment and highlighting its clinical translation prospects.

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Concepts	Keywords
Cancer	cuproptosis
Drug	ferroptosis
Efficient	laser-induced graphene (LIG)
Laser	low-temperature phototherapy
Phototherapy	melanoma

Semantics

Type	Source	Name
disease	MESH	hyperthermia
disease	MESH	hypersensitivity
disease	MESH	infection
disease	MESH	recurrence
disease	MESH	resection margins
disease	MESH	death
drug	DRUGBANK	Oxygen
drug	DRUGBANK	(S)-Des-Me-Ampa
pathway	REACTOME	Translation
pathway	KEGG	Ferroptosis
pathway	REACTOME	Apoptosis
disease	MESH	metastasis
disease	MESH	skin cancer
pathway	KEGG	Melanoma
disease	MESH	Melanoma
disease	MESH	Tumor
drug	DRUGBANK	Activated charcoal
drug	DRUGBANK	Water
drug	DRUGBANK	Copper
pathway	REACTOME	Release
drug	DRUGBANK	Nitrogen
drug	DRUGBANK	Albendazole
disease	MESH	strain
drug	DRUGBANK	Propidium
drug	DRUGBANK	Iodide
pathway	REACTOME	Cell Cycle
disease	MESH	body weight
disease	MESH	weight loss
disease	MESH	fibrosis
drug	DRUGBANK	Calcium
drug	DRUGBANK	Glutathione
disease	MESH	GSH
pathway	REACTOME	Autophagy
pathway	REACTOME	Pyroptosis
drug	DRUGBANK	Iron
pathway	REACTOME	Signal Transduction
disease	MESH	inflammation
drug	DRUGBANK	Lipoic Acid
drug	DRUGBANK	Hydrogen peroxide
disease	MESH	hypoxia
drug	DRUGBANK	Glutathione disulfide
drug	DRUGBANK	ATP
disease	MESH	mitochondrial dysfunction
drug	DRUGBANK	Tretamine
disease	MESH	included
disease	MESH	rupture
disease	MESH	shock
disease	MESH	TTM
pathway	REACTOME	Metabolism
drug	DRUGBANK	ANX-510
pathway	KEGG	Lysosome
pathway	KEGG	Chemokine signaling pathway
disease	MESH	ICD
drug	DRUGBANK	Cycloserine
disease	MESH	DCs
pathway	REACTOME	Immune System
disease	MESH	necrosis
disease	MESH	edema
drug	DRUGBANK	Alkaline Phosphatase
disease	MESH	ALP
drug	DRUGBANK	Cholesterol
disease	MESH	scarring
drug	DRUGBANK	Aspartame
disease	MESH	PBS
disease	MESH	image
disease	MESH	Rad
disease	MESH	APC
drug	DRUGBANK	Acetate ion
drug	DRUGBANK	Medical air
drug	DRUGBANK	Fluorescein
drug	DRUGBANK	Coenzyme M
disease	MESH	Chai
disease	MESH	measles
pathway	KEGG	Measles
disease	MESH	carcinoma
drug	DRUGBANK	Carboxyamidotriazole
drug	DRUGBANK	Carbon monoxide
drug	DRUGBANK	Silver
drug	DRUGBANK	Prussian blue
drug	DRUGBANK	Dextrose unspecified form
disease	MESH	Park
drug	DRUGBANK	Guanosine
disease	MESH	adenocarcinoma
drug	DRUGBANK	Mecasermin
disease	MESH	pancreatic cancer
pathway	KEGG	Pancreatic cancer
disease	MESH	uveal melanoma
disease	MESH	Dis
drug	DRUGBANK	Methylergometrine
pathway	KEGG	Hippo signaling pathway
pathway	REACTOME	Glycolysis
disease	MESH	Oncogenesis
disease	MESH	FSP1
disease	MESH	lung cancers
disease	MESH	ependymomas
disease	MESH	ovarian cancer
drug	DRUGBANK	Troleandomycin
disease	MESH	colorectal cancer
pathway	KEGG	Colorectal cancer
drug	DRUGBANK	Nonoxynol-9