Germanene-Based Theranostic Materials for Surgical Adjuvant Treatment: Inhibiting Tumor Recurrence and Wound Infection

Germanene (Ge) is a newly discovered two-dimensional (2D) mono-elemental material whose biomedical applications remain largely unexplored. Here, we provide the proof-of-principle evidence of a 2D Ge-based strategy for surgical adjuvant treatment. The exfoliated Ge nanosheets (NSs) exhibited high drug-loading capacity, multiresponsive (pH- and near-infrared [NIR]-sensitive) drug-release behavior, NIR-triggered deep tumor penetration, good biocompatibility, and excellent multimodal imaging-guided treatment. When combined with hydrogel (composed of clinically approved agarose and chitosan), the developed drug-loaded Ge@hydrogel was coated on the postoperative wound surface after tumor removal. Followed by NIR irradiation, the generated local hyperthermia and NIR-triggered drug release achieved immediate residual tumor-eliminating and bacteria-killing effects, while the hydrogel served as a therapeutic reservoir for long-lasting antitumor and bactericidal effects. In summary, this is the first application of 2D Ge-based surgical adjuvant treatment, potentially marking a jumping-off point for future studies on biomedical applications of Ge.