Enzyme-based biofuel cell designed for direct power generation from biofluids in living organisms

T. Miyake*, S. Yoshino, T. Ofuji, H. Kaji, M. Nishizawa

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Enzymatic biofuel cells have attracted much attention for their potential to directly use biochemical energy sources in living organisms such as animals, fruits, etc. However, generally natural organisms have a skin, and the oxygen concentration in the organisms is lower than that of biofuels like sugars. Here, we fabricated a miniature assembly that consists of a needle bioanode for accessing biofuels in organisms through their skins and a gas-diffusion biocathode for utilizing abundant oxygen in air, for the first time. The performance of the biocathode was fourfold improved by optimizing its hydrophobicity. The assembled device with a needle anode for fructose oxidation was inserted into a raw grape, producing a maximum power of 26.5 μW (115 μW cm-2) at 0.34 V. A light-emitting diode (LED) with the cell served as a self-powered indicator of the sugar level in the grape. Power generation from blood sugar was also investigated by inserting a needle anode for glucose oxidation into a blood vessel in a rabbit ear. Prior coating of the tip of the needle anode with an antibiofouling agent was effective to stabilize output power.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012
PublisherChemical and Biological Microsystems Society
Pages1432-1434
Number of pages3
ISBN (Print)9780979806452
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Jan 1
Externally publishedYes
Event16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012 - Okinawa, Japan
Duration: 2012 Oct 282012 Nov 1

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012

Conference

Conference16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityOkinawa
Period12/10/2812/11/1

Keywords

  • Bioelectrode
  • Miniature biofuel cell
  • Power generation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Bioengineering

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