Enzymatic Fuel Cells: Towards Self-Powered Implantable and Wearable Diagnostics

Carla Gonzalez-Solino; Mirella Di Lorenzo

doi:10.3390/bios8010011

Enzymatic Fuel Cells: Towards Self-Powered Implantable and Wearable Diagnostics

Biosensors (Basel). 2018 Jan 29;8(1):11. doi: 10.3390/bios8010011.

Authors

Carla Gonzalez-Solino¹, Mirella Di Lorenzo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. C.Gonzalez.Solino@bath.ac.uk.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. M.Di.Lorenzo@bath.ac.uk.

Abstract

With the rapid progress in nanotechnology and microengineering, point-of-care and personalised healthcare, based on wearable and implantable diagnostics, is becoming a reality. Enzymatic fuel cells (EFCs) hold great potential as a sustainable means to power such devices by using physiological fluids as the fuel. This review summarises the fundamental operation of EFCs and discusses the most recent advances for their use as implantable and wearable self-powered sensors.

Keywords: enzymatic fuel cells; self-powered sensors; wearable and implantable electronics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation
Enzymes / chemistry*
Humans
Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation*
Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
Prostheses and Implants*
Wearable Electronic Devices*

Substances

Enzymes