An Implantable Biofuel Cell for a Live Insect

TLDR

A biofuel cell was engineered with a trehalose anode comprising bienzymatic trehalase and glucose oxidase, and a bilirubin oxidase cathode, employing osmium complexes grafted onto a polymeric backbone as electron relays. When implanted in a female *Blaberus discoidalis*, the device delivered a peak specific power density of approximately 55 μW cm⁻² at 0.2 V, declining only about 5 % after 2.5 h of continuous operation.

Abstract

A biofuel cell incorporating a bienzymatic trehalase|glucose oxidase trehalose anode and a bilirubin oxidase dioxygen cathode using Os complexes grafted to a polymeric backbone as electron relays was designed and constructed. The specific power densities of the biofuel cell implanted in a female Blaberus discoidalis through incisions into its abdomen yielded maximum values of ca. 55 μW/cm(2) at 0.2 V that decreased by only ca. 5% after ca. 2.5 h of operation.