Biological fuel cell and methods

• US 8,889,305 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heller, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Huff, Mark F
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US14/218,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20140199603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 429/401
• US Class Current: 429/401
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9008 Organic or organo-metallic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

positioning in a biological system comprising oxygen an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising;

a substrate comprising a first face and a second face;

an anode disposed on the first face of the substrate, wherein the anode comprises an anode enzyme and a mediator, wherein the enzyme and the mediator are crosslinked; and

a cathode disposed on the second face of the substrate.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mediator is a metallocene derivative.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the metallocene derivative is ferrocene.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mediator comprises a transition metal complex.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the transition metal complex comprises ruthenium or osmium.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the anode comprises a conductive material selected from the group consisting of gold, carbon, platinum, ruthenium dioxide and palladium.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the anode comprises carbon or gold.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate surface is roughened.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the anode enzyme is a glucose-responsive enzyme.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the glucose-responsive enzyme is glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the glucose-responsive enzyme further comprises an enzyme cofactor.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the enzyme cofactor is pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ).

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises platinum.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cathode further comprises a cathode enzyme.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the cathode enzyme is an enzyme selected from the group consisting of tyrosinase, horseradish peroxidase, soybean peroxidase, laccase and cytochrome C peroxidase.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the cathode enzyme is laccase or cytochrome C peroxidase.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the electrochemical cell is configured to be subcutaneously positioned in a subject.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a mass transport limiting membrane disposed over the anode and cathode.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the mass transport limiting membrane is configured to limit contact of macromolecules of 5000 daltons or greater with the anode and cathode.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the mass transport limiting membrane is a hydrogel.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the hydrogel comprises at least 20 wt % fluid when in equilibrium with analyte-containing fluid.