Glucose/O2 biofuel cell based on enzymes, redox mediators, and multiple-walled carbon nanotubes deposited by AC-electrophoresis then stabilized by electropolymerized polypyrrole

Biotechnol Bioeng. 2012 Jul;109(7):1601-9. doi: 10.1002/bit.24438. Epub 2012 Jan 24.

Abstract

In this study, we developed an automated strategy to manufacture an enzyme BFC powered by glucose/O(2). The bioanode consists of GOx enzyme and PQQ redox mediator adsorbed over night on MWCNTs then deposited by means of AC-electrophoresis at 30 Hz and 160 V(p-p) and, finally stabilized by electropolymerized polypyrrole. The biocathode is constructed from LAc enzyme and ABTS redox mediator adsorbed over night on MWCNTs, then electrophoretically deposited under AC-electric field at 30 Hz and 160 V(p-p) and, finally stabilized by electrodeposited polypyrrole. The BFC was studied under air in phosphate buffer solution pH 7.4 containing 10 mM glucose and in human serum with 5 mM glucose addition at the physiological temperature of 37°C. Under these conditions, the maximum power density reaches 1.1 µW · mm(-2) at a cell voltage of 0.167 V in buffer solution and 0.69 µW · mm(-2) at cell voltage of 0.151 V in human serum. Such automated BFCs have a great potential to be optimized, miniaturized to micro and nanoscale devices suitable for in vivo studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus niger / enzymology*
  • Bioelectric Energy Sources*
  • Electrodes
  • Electrophoresis
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glucose Oxidase / metabolism*
  • Laccase / metabolism*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / chemistry
  • Trametes / enzymology*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Polymers
  • Pyrroles
  • polypyrrole
  • Glucose Oxidase
  • Laccase
  • Glucose
  • Oxygen