Self-Powered Diaper Sensor with Wireless Transmitter Powered by Paper-Based Biofuel Cell with Urine Glucose as Fuel

A self-driven sensor that can detect urine and urine sugar and can be mounted on diapers is desirable to reduce the burden of long-term care. In this study, we created a paper-based glucose biofuel cell that can be mounted on diapers to detect urine sugar. Electrodes for biofuel cells were produced by printing MgO-templated porous carbon on which poly(glycidyl methacrylate) was modified using graft polymerization. A new bioanode was prepared through covalently modifying flavin-adenine-dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase and azure A with pendant glycidyl groups of poly(glycidyl methacrylate). We prepared a cathode with covalently bonded bilirubin oxidase. Covalent bonding of enzymes and mediators to both the bioanode and biocathode suppressed elution and improved stability. The biofuel cell could achieve a maximum output density of 0.12 mW cm^–2, and by combining it with a wireless transmission device, the concentration of glucose sensed from the transmission frequency was in the range of 0–10 mM. The sensitivity of the sensor was estimated at 0.0030 ± 0.0002 Hz mmol^–1 dm³. This device is expected to be a new urine-sugar detection device, composed only of organic materials with a low environmental load and it can be useful for detecting postprandial hyperglycemia.

Recent Progress in Applications of Enzymatic Bioelectrocatalysis

Bioelectrocatalysis has become one of the most important research fields in electrochemistry and provided a firm base for the application of important technology in various bioelectrochemical devices, such as biosensors, biofuel cells, and biosupercapacitors. The understanding and technology of bioelectrocatalysis have greatly improved with the introduction of nanostructured electrode materials and protein-engineering methods over the last few decades. Recently, the electroenzymatic production of renewable energy resources and useful organic compounds (bioelectrosynthesis) has attracted worldwide attention. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the applications of enzymatic bioelectrocatalysis.

Mediated electrochemical oxidation of glucose via poly(methylene green) grafted on the carbon surface catalyzed by flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase

Electrochemically polymerized phenothiazines (thionine, methylene green, methylene blue, and toluidine blue) on carbon electrodes were investigated as electron transfer mediators of glucose oxidation by flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FAD-GDH) for biosensor and biofuel cell applications. Among the tested polyphenothiazines grafted on a glassy carbon electrode, clear redox-mediating activity was observed for poly(methylene green), and the catalytic oxidation current depended on the concentrations of glucose and enzymes and the amount of polymer deposited on the electrode surface. The poly(methylene green)-grafted porous carbon electrodes showed 3 mA cm-2 of glucose oxidation current catalyzed by FAD-GDH.

From fundamentals to applications of bioelectrocatalysis: bioelectrocatalytic reactions of FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase and bilirubin oxidase

In this review, I present the main highlights of my works in the development of bioelectrocatalysis, which can be used in widespread applications, particularly for the design of biosensor and biofuel cells. In particular, I focus on research progress made in two key bioelectrocatalytic reactions: glucose oxidation by flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase and oxygen reduction by bilirubin oxidase. I demonstrate the fundamental principles of bioelectrocatalysis and the requirements for enhancing the catalytic performance, including the choice of a mediator of redox reactions, immobilization, and electrode materials. These methods can allow for achieving control of the bioelectrocatalytic reaction, thereby overcoming obstacles toward their industrial applications.