Biofuel cell operating in human plasma

Abstract

Here an enzymatic glucose biofuel cell for monitoring human plasma glucose level is reported. The system comprised pyrolloquinoline quinone glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ-GDH) modified bioanode and bilirubin oxidase (BOx) modified biocathode. Half-cell experiments of the bioanode (PQQ-GDH) and biocathode (BOx) exhibited distinctive electrochemical responses to various plasma glucose concentrations. The complete biofuel cell assembly in 11.11 mM plasma glucose generated 3.6 fold higher peak power density than in 2.78 mM plasma glucose. In the presence of 11.11 mM plasma glucose, an open circuit voltage, short circuit current density and peak power density of 491.5 mV, 4.75 mA/cm2 and 0.917 mW/cm2, respectively was observed. The system exhibited a linear dynamic operating range of 2.78 mM–11.11 mM with a sensitivity of 7.63 mW/ mM cm2. These results when compared to the biofuel cell operating in standard glucose solution exhibited higher performance and the system has the potential to be miniaturized and therefore can be used to monitor blood glucose.