Enzymatic biofuel cells (BFCs) have been implanted and used as energy converters for pacemakers, insulin pumps, neural implants, electrical biostimulators, and drug delivery devices. Here, an intravenously implantable glucose/dioxygen hybrid enzyme-platinum BFC was developed. The hybrid BFC was obtained with a flexible carbon fiber (FCF) microelectrode modified using a neutral red (NR) redox mediator and glucose oxidase to form the bioanode. An FCF modified with platinum nanoparticles stabilized on a PAMAM-G4 dendrimer was used as the cathode. In vitro experiments conducted using the hybrid BFC in a phosphate buffer solution and glucose (47 mmol L-1) revealed high electrocatalytic performance at an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 400 mV, a maximum current density of 2700 �A cm-2 at 0.0 V, and a maximum output power of 240 �W cm-2 at 250 mV. Glucose in the rat blood was used as fuel in anodic reactions and dissolved O2 was used as the oxidizing agent on the cathode. For in vivo experiments, the hybrid BFC was inserted into the jugular vein of a living rat (Rattus Norvegicus) by using a catheter. The power density of the hybrid BFC was evaluated over a period of 24 h, and an OCV of 125 mV with a maximum power density of 95 �W cm-2 was obtained at 80 mV. The power density of a recently developed BFC has been not enough to feed electric circuits in medical devices; the present work clarifies the parameters that tend to decrease the power density of this BFC. One fact is the reduction of oxygen on bioanode and also the chemical reaction of oxygen with GOx. When there was saturated-O2 in anodic compartment, a 28% decrease in the current density was observed. Finally, the effects of some electrochemical parameters on the performance of the BFC were also evaluated.

Electrochemical performance evaluation of an implantable glucose/dioxygen biofuel cell

247th National Meeting (2014)

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