An intravenous implantable glucose/dioxygen hybrid enzyme-Pt micro-biofuel cell (BFC) was investigated. In this miniaturized BFC, a flexible carbon fiber (FCF) microelectrode modified with neutral red redox mediator and glucose oxidase was used as the bioanode, and an FCF modified with platinum nanoparticles stabilized on PAMAM-G4 dendrimer was used as the cathode. In vitro experiments conducted using the BFC in a phosphate buffer solution (50 mmol L(-1), pH = 7.2) and glucose (47 mmol L(-1)) showed high electrocatalytic performance with an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 400 mV, a maximum current density of 2700 μA cm(-2) at 0.0 V and a maximum output power of 200 μW cm(-2) at 250 mV. Under physiological conditions, glucose from rat blood is used as a fuel in anodic reactions and dissolved molecular oxygen is used as the oxidizing agent on the cathode. For in vivo experiments, the BFC was inserted into the jugular vein of a living rat (Rattus novergicus) using a catheter (internal diameter 0.5 mm). The power density of the implantable BFC was evaluated over a period of 24 h, and an OCV of 125 mV with a maximum power density of 95 μW cm(-2) was obtained at 80 mV.

Direct electron transfer (DET) between redox enzymes and electrode surfaces is of growing interest and an important strategy in the development of biofuel cells and biosensors. Among the nanomaterials utilized at electrode/enzyme interfaces to enhance the electronic communication, graphene oxide (GO) has been identified as a highly promising candidate. It is postulated that GO layers decrease the distance between the flavin cofactor (FAD/FADH2) of the glucose oxidase enzyme (GOx) and the electrode surface, though experimental evidence concerning the distance dependence of the rate constant for heterogeneous electron-transfer (k(het)) has not yet been observed. In this work, we report the experimentally observed DET of the GOx enzyme adsorbed on flexible carbon fiber (FCF) electrodes modified with GO (FCF-GO), where the k(het) between GO and electroactive GOx has been measured at a structurally well-defined interface. The curves obtained from the Marcus theory were used to obtain k(het), by using the model proposed by Chidsey. In agreement with experimental data, this model proved to be useful to systematically probe the dependence of electron transfer rates on distance, in order to provide an empirical basis to understand the origin of interfacial DET between GO and GOx. We also demonstrate that the presence of GO at the enzyme/electrode interface diminishes the activation energy by decreasing the distance between the electrode surface and FAD/FADH2.

The concept of constitutional dynamic chemistry (CDC) based on the control of non-covalent interactions in supramolecular structures is promising for having a large impact on nanoscience and nanotechnology if adequate nanoscale manipulation methods are used. In this study, we demonstrate that the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique may be used to produce electroactive electrodes with ITO coated by tetrasulfonated nickel phthalocyanine (NiTsPc) alternated with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) incorporating gold nanoparticles (AuNP), in which synergy has been achieved in the interaction between the nanoparticles and NiTsPc. The catalytic activity toward hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in multilayer films was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, where oxidation of H(2)O(2) led to increased currents in the PAH-AuNP/NiTsPc films for the electrochemical processes associated with the phthalocyanine ring and nickel at 0.52 and 0.81 V vs. SCE, respectively, while for PAH/NiTsPc films (without AuNP) only the first redox process was affected. In control experiments we found out that the catalytic activity was not solely due to the presence of AuNP, but rather to the nanoparticles inducing NiTsPc supramolecular structures that favored access to their redox sites, thus yielding strong charge transfer. The combined effects of NiTsPc and AuNP, which could only be observed in nanostructured LbL films, point to another avenue to pursue within the CDC paradigm.

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This paper reports an implantable biochip for intravenous glucose monitoring in rat blood. A key feature of this device is the combination of the flexibility of the flexible carbon fiber (FCF) electrodes for the micromanipulation of the biosensor in the implant. FCF, modified with a neutral red electrochemical mediator and an enzyme glucose oxidase, enables the biochip to be manipulated conveniently during insertion in the rat veins. For in vivo experiments, the biochip is inserted into the jugular vein of a living rat (Rattus novergicus) using a poly(propylene) catheter. The capability for in vivo glucose detection is evaluated with a normal concentration of glucose (30 mg dL−1) and with a diabetic simulation (200 mg dL−1). Through electrochemical data, this type of biochip can distinguish different concentration of glucose in the blood of the animal. The biochip showed promise performance for future applications of implantable bioelectronics devices.

This paper presents studies about the molecular interactions and redox processes involved in the formation of palladium nanoparticles associated to glucose oxidase (GOx-PdNPs) in a supramolecular arrangement. The synthesis occurs in two steps, the Pd reduction and the formation of the 80 nm sized supramolecular aggregates containing multiples units of GOx associated to 3.5 nm sized PdNPs. During synthesis, GOx molecules interact with Pd salt leading to metal ion and FAD reduction probably via the thiol group of the cysteine 521 residue. For the growing of PdNPs, formic acid was necessary as a co-adjuvant reducing agent. Besides the contribution for the redox processes, GOx is also necessary for the NP stability preventing the formation of precipitates resulted from uncontrolled growing of NPs Cyclic voltammetry of the GOx-PdNPs demonstrated electroactivity of the bionanocomposite immobilized on ITO (indium-tin oxide) electrode surface and also the NP is partially blocked due to strong interaction GOx and the surface of PdNPs. Vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that significant structural changes occurred in GOx after the association to PdNP. These mechanistics and structural studies can contribute for modulation of bionanocomposites properties.

A new approach is described to produce an efficient electrode material for biofuel cells using flexible carbon cloth (FCC) and hollow core-mesoporous shell carbon (HCMSC) nanospheres as bio-anode materials. The bio-electrochemical activity of glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme adsorbed on this bio-anode was evaluated, with the maximum anodic current density varying from 80 microA cm(-2) to 180 microA cm-2 for glucose concentrations up to 5.0 mmol L(-1) for the FCC modified electrode with HCMSCs. The open circuit cell voltage was E(0) = 380 mV, and the catalytic electro-oxidation current of glucose reached 0.1 mA cm(-2) at 0.0 V versus Ag/AgCl. This new system employing HCMSC-based FCC is promising toward novel bio-anodes for biofuel cells using glucose as a fuel.

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