The Bio(fuel)onic Man: Researchers pioneer bio-based fuel cell implant
In France, scientists at Joseph Fourier University have come up with a first: implanting biofuel cells into rats, which convert simple sugars into electricity, which can be used to power devices such as a pacemaker.
In the experiment, the team was able to generate 6.5 microwatts, not far from the 10 required to power a pacemaker.
The process – enzymes are use to oxidize glucose, producing electrical current as a by-product of the catalytic reaction. It’s a straightforward bit of science – the difficulty has been designing an enzyme environment that would work inside the body’s environment, without being interfered with by charged particles that surround cells. The solution? Sequestering the enzymes in a graphite and plastic environment.
The French team reports that they expect to be able to improve the environment to produce well above the 10 microwatt threshold, enough to power a wide variety of medical devices, including artificial organs. Also possible – small computer chips to power sensors or electronic devices or tools, such as homing signals that can be placed under the skin of children and other at-risk individuals.
This fourth generation biofuel technology – that is, producing a fuel without producing an intermediate biomass – perhaps will presage a variety of micro-devices that can be powered by bio-microprocessors.
An early presentation: “Powering implants with Biofuels” helped pave the way to this new technology.
“Passing data and Supplying Power to Neural Implants” looks at the possible applications of the technology to the brain.
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