Scientists Implant Biofuel Cells Into Rats, Using Glucose to Produce Electricity

• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2010-05-18 23:36

  Scientists have implanted the first functional glucose biofuel cell in a living animal. Unlike batteries that supply power to implants, a power-generating device may not have to be surgically removed and replaced, because glucose is a potentially limitless source of energy.
  
  The device uses enzymes to harvest energy from glucose and oxygen found naturally in the body. Past attempts at using such a device in animals have failed because the enzymes have required acidic conditions or were inhibited by charged particles in the fluid surrounding cells. But Philippe Cinquin and his team from Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, France, overcame these obstacles by confining selected enzymes inside graphite discs that were placed into dialysis bags. Glucose and oxygen flowed into the device, but enzymes stayed in place and catalyzed the oxidation of glucose to generate electrical energy.
  
  The team surgically implanted the device in the abdominal cavity of two rats. The maximum power of the device was 6.5 microwatts, which approaches the 10 microwatts required by pacemakers. The power remained around two microwatts for 11 days in one rat, and the other rat showed byproducts of glucose oxidation in its urine for three months, indicating that the device lasts at least that long. "This is a big breakthrough for the field of implantable biofuel cells," says Shelley Minteer, an electrochemist at Saint Louis University.
  
  "It's quite an interesting paper that demonstrates for the first time that one can generate electrical power from body fluids," says Itamar Willner, a biomolecular chemist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
  
  The technology could be used for a range of applications, such as neural and bone-growth stimulators, drug delivery devices, insulin pumps, and biosensors, says Eileen Yu, a chemical engineer at Newcastle University. But whether enzymes remain stable for a long period of time is a concern, she says. And the efficiency of transfer of electrons between enzymes and electrodes should be improved, she says.
  

  
  
  Technology Review: Power from Glucose
  
  owo
  and people thought cats can produce electricity
• Mrlucky77 wrote on 2010-05-18 23:40
  Now implant that in humans and use humans as the power source for fully functional Iron Man suits.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-05-18 23:44
  Sounds troublesome. :\
• Rime wrote on 2010-05-18 23:45

  Quote from Mrlucky77;38906:

  Now implant that in humans and use humans as the power source for fully functional Iron Man suits.

  
  Mhmm. It would be just barely enough to light up the suits eyes 8D
  

  Quote from Kazuni;38913:

  Sounds troublesome. :\

  
  And why is that?
• EndlessDreams wrote on 2010-05-18 23:52
  It is the beginning of farms of human made to power energy for robots!
• Osayidan wrote on 2010-05-18 23:53
  And this is how pikachu was created.
• Moppy wrote on 2010-05-18 23:54
  ...
  
  These scientists were playing too much Pokemon.
  
  EDIT: DAMN YOU OSAY! BEAT ME TO THE PUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!
• Laconicus wrote on 2010-05-19 00:10
  This would be a great thing to use on humans. I wouldn't want to see it used on animals though.
• Drifter wrote on 2010-05-19 00:11
  So basically, they're making pikachus?
  personally I wanted a Squirtle, but ok
• Moppy wrote on 2010-05-19 00:15

  Quote from Drifter;38950:

  So basically, they're making pikachus?
  personally I wanted a Squirtle, but ok

  
  
  

  [Image: http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/real_life_pokemon___squirtle_by_heyzabava.jpg]

  
  
  It will happen.
• Frawmus wrote on 2010-05-19 00:20

  Quote from Rime;38916:

  Mhmm. It would be just barely enough to light up the suits eyes 8D
  
  

  
  
  Rats size VS. Human size....
  I think it would be more than eyes :D
• Rime wrote on 2010-05-19 03:20
  Rats were only able to produce 6/1000000 watts and it takes 15 watts to light a small, low-intensity light bulb. :U
• Moppy wrote on 2010-05-19 03:21

  Quote from Rime;39150:

  Rats were only able to produce 6/1000000 watts and it takes 15 watts to light a small, low-intensity light bulb. :U

  
  
  Baby steps.
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-05-19 03:28

  Quote from EndlessDreams;38922:

  It is the beginning of farms of human made to power energy for robots!

  
  
  D: good thing we all die in 2 years.
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2010-05-19 03:33

  Quote from bradstrt;39164:

  D: good thing we all die in 2 years.

  
  
  nu uh
  the world ends in December 31, 2010 because the cat's calendar said so.