A Bendable Biofuel Cell-Based Fully Integrated Biomedical Nanodevice for Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Scurvy

Abstract

Fully integrated nanodevices that allow the complete functional implementation without an external accessory or equipment are deemed to be one of the most ideal and ultimate goals for modern nanodevice design and construction. In this work, we demonstrate the first example of a bendable biofuel cell (BFC)-based fully integrated biomedical nanodevice with simple, palm-sized, easy-to-carry, pump-free, cost-saving, and easy-to-use features for the point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of scurvy from a single drop of untreated human serum (down to 0.2 μL) by integrating a bendable and disposable vitamin C/air microfluidic BFC (micro-BFC) (named iezCard) for self-powered vitamin C biosensing with a custom mini digital LED voltmeter (named iezBox) for signal processing and transmission, along with a ″built-in″ biocomputing BUFFER gate for intelligent diagnosis. Under the simplicity- and practicability-oriented idea, a cost-effective strategy (e.g., biomass-derived hierarchical micro–mesoporous carbon aerogels, screen-printed technique, a single piece of Kimwipes paper, LED display, and universal components) was implemented for nanodevice design rather than any top-end or pricey method (e.g., photolithography/electron-beam evaporation, peristaltic pump, wireless system, and 3D printing technique), which enormously reduces the cost of feedstock down to ∼USD 2.55 per integrated kit including a disposal iezCard (∼USD 0.08 per test) and a reusable iezBox (∼USD 2.47 for large-scale tests). These distinctive and attractive features allow such a fully integrated biomedical nanodevice to fully satisfy the basic requirements for POC diagnosis of scurvy from a single drop of raw human serum and make it particularly appropriate for resource-poor settings, where there is a lack of medical facilities, funds, and qualified personnel.

Electrogenic Bacteria Promise New Opportunities for Powering, Sensing, and Synthesizing

“…Abiotic and enzymatic fuel cells have been successfully demonstrated as wearable and implantable power solutions. [90,[94][95][96] Because of potential safety issues of using microorganisms with infectious risks, MFCs had not been considered as a proper power source for any of BSN applications other than simulated studies. However, given that the human body is inhabited by millions of microorganisms, [97,98] the direct use of those human microorganisms as a fully self-sustaining biocatalyst in the MFC will significantly reduce foreign-body response and can be more attractive than toxic abiotic fuel cells and the unstable enzymatic fuel cells.…”

State of Sweat: Emerging Wearable Systems for Real-Time, Noninvasive Sweat Sensing and Analytics

“…This necessitates consideration of sensor performance within a broad context of power management, wireless communication, and data acquisition of fully integrated biochemical sensing systems. The recent emergence ,,− of biofuel cell-based self-powered wearable sensors represents a successful pathway to realizing such a fully integrated platform.…”

Recent Progress in Intelligent Wearable Sensors for Health Monitoring and Wound Healing Based on Biofluids

“…The intelligent non-invasive blood glucose monitoring system can avoid the discomfort caused by acupuncture, optimize the patient’s medical experience, and also bring great chances to medical diagnosis and health management. Besides sensor devices driven by biofuel cells used in sweat, Sun et al (2021b) reported a biofuel cell-driven medical nanodevice used in serum, which includes two parts: a vitamin C sensor chip (iezCard) for self-powered energy and an output chip for signal processing. The iezCard in the device integrates a special Kimwipes (A common laboratory paper) microfluidic channel, which can achieve efficient transmission of the serum to be tested.…”