Paper-based microfluidic biofuel cell operating under glucose concentrations within physiological range

This work addresses the development of a compact paper-based enzymatic microfluidic glucose/O2 fuel cell that can operate using a very limited sample volume (≈35 µl) and explores the energy generated by glucose at concentrations typically found in blood samples at physiological conditions (pH 7.4). Carbon paper electrodes combined with a paper sample absorption substrate all contained within a plastic microfluidic casing are used to construct the paper-based fuel cell. The anode catalysts consist of glucose dehydrogenase and [Os(4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bipyridine)2(poly-vinylimidazole)10Cl]+ as mediator, while the cathode catalysts were bilirubin oxidase and [Os(2,2′-bipyridine)2(poly-vinylimidazole)10Cl]+ as mediator. The fuel cell delivered a linear power output response to glucose over the range of 2.5–30 mM, with power densities ranging from 20 to 90 µW cm−2. The quantification of the available electrical power as well as the energy density extracted from small synthetic samples allows planning potential uses of this energy to power different sensors and analysis devices in a wide variety of in-vitro applications.
Peter Ó Conghaile is thanked for synthesis of the redox polymers. Neus Sabaté acknowledges funding from the European H2020 Framework Programme (Grant Agreement 648518 - SUPERCELL - ERC 2014 CoG). Juan Pablo Esquivel would like to thank the support from Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (APPOCS) within the 7th European Community Framework Programme. F. Javier del Campo acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy through the DADDi2 project (TEC2013-48506-C3). Dónal Leech acknowledges support from Grant number 607793 under the Bioenergy FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN Programme.