Starch‐Powered Biofuel Cell Activated by Logically Processed Biomolecular Signals

Abstract

AbstractAn overview of the application of signal‐switchable electrodes in biofuel cells is provided, concentrating on sophisticated systems where logically processed biomolecular signals can activate power production by switchable biofuel cells. The discussion is directed to the formulation of a new concept of physiologically controlled biofuel cells with the power production on demand, particularly in the case of implantable biofuel cells operating in vivo under physiological conditions. The practical realization of the novel concept may be in separating the signal‐processing and power‐producing sub‐systems which communicate electronically. The general conceptual discussion is exemplified with a system where a biomolecular logic system represented by a single Boolean OR logic gate is used to activate enzyme‐release to produce glucose‐biofuel from starch to activate power generation by a biofuel cell. The presented example is aiming at the concept demonstration rather than immediate practical application. Further sophistication of the given example is possible based on the rapidly developing biocomputing approach and integration of signal‐processing systems with switchable materials, electrodes and biofuel cells.