Miniature biological fuel cell that is operational under physiological conditions, and associated devices and methods
First Claim
1. A fuel cell comprising:
- an anode and an anode electrolysis layer on at least a portion of the anode, the anode electrolysis layer comprising an anode enzyme; and
a cathode and a cathode electrolysis layer on at least a portion of the cathode, the cathode electrolysis layer comprising a copper-containing cathode enzyme selected from the group consisting of ascorbate oxidase, a ceruloplasmine, and a bilirubin oxidase,wherein the fuel cell operates under physiological conditions without a membrane separating the anode and the cathode,wherein the copper-containing cathode enzyme retains more than 80% of its maximal activity under the physiological conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell is provided with an anode and a cathode. The anode is in electrical communication with an anode enzyme and the cathode is in electrical communication with a cathode enzyme. The anode enzyme is preferably an oxidase or a dehydrogenase. The cathode enzyme is a copper-containing enzyme, such as a laccase, an ascorbate oxidase, a ceruloplasmine, or a bilirubin oxidase. Preferably, the cathode enzyme is operable under physiological conditions. Redox polymers serve to wire the anode enzyme to the anode and the cathode enzyme to the cathode. The fuel cell can be very small in size because it does not require a membrane, seal, or case. The fuel cell can be used in connection with a biological system, such as a human, as it may operate at physiological conditions. By virtue of its size and operability at physiological conditions, the fuel cell is of particular interest for applications calling for a power source implanted in a human body, such as a variety of medical applications.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A fuel cell comprising:
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an anode and an anode electrolysis layer on at least a portion of the anode, the anode electrolysis layer comprising an anode enzyme; and a cathode and a cathode electrolysis layer on at least a portion of the cathode, the cathode electrolysis layer comprising a copper-containing cathode enzyme selected from the group consisting of ascorbate oxidase, a ceruloplasmine, and a bilirubin oxidase, wherein the fuel cell operates under physiological conditions without a membrane separating the anode and the cathode, wherein the copper-containing cathode enzyme retains more than 80% of its maximal activity under the physiological conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification