Screen-Printable Functional Nanomaterials for Flexible and Wearable Single-Enzyme-Based Energy-Harvesting and Self-Powered Biosensing Devices

Abstract

Developing flexible bioelectronics is essential to the realization of artificial intelligence devices and biomedical applications, such as wearables, but their potential is limited by sustainable energy supply. An enzymatic biofuel cell (BFC) is promising for power supply, but its use is limited by the challenges of incorporating multiple enzymes and rigid platforms. This paper shows the first example of screen-printable nanocomposite inks engineered for a single-enzyme-based energy-harvesting device and a self-powered biosensor driven by glucose on bioanode and biocathode. The anode ink is modified with naphthoquinone and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), whereas the cathode ink is modified with Prussian blue/MWCNT hybrid before immobilizing with glucose oxidase. The flexible bioanode and the biocathode consume glucose. This BFC yields an open circuit voltage of 0.45 V and a maximum power density of 266 μW cm−2. The wearable device coupled with a wireless portable system can convert chemical energy into electric energy and detect glucose in artificial sweat. The self-powered sensor can detect glucose concentrations up to 10 mM. Common interfering substances, including lactate, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and creatinine, have no effect on this self-powered biosensor. Additionally, the device can endure multiple mechanical deformations. New advances in ink development and flexible platforms enable a wide range of applications, including on-body electronics, self-sustainable applications, and smart fabrics. Graphic Abstract

Materials-Driven Soft Wearable Bioelectronics for Connected Healthcare

“…Flexible and wearable biofuel cells (BFCs) are subclasses of BFCs that convert biochemical energy into electricity through bioelectrochemical reactions by using biologically derived redox catalysts while maintaining their mechanical deformable configurations, representing a green energy supplier for cutting-edge wearable or epidermal sensors with outstanding biocompatibility and eco-friendless . Metabolic, enzymatic, and microbial BFCs have been extensively developed for on-skin or implantable energy harvesting directly from body fluids including sweat, tears, blood, and interstitial fluids or the environment, enabling the continuous and in situ powering for a variety of epidermal sensors. − …”

Advanced and personalized healthcare through integrated wearable sensors (versatile)

“…Self-powered wearable biosensors are next-generation wearable sensors, wherein the sensors rely on energy harvesting from bio-fluids. 41 Interested readers can refer to the detailed analysis of various self-powered devices by different researchers. [41][42][43][44][45] A notable work is the development of a batteryfree powered wearable sensor based on zinc oxide nanowires.…”

“…41 Interested readers can refer to the detailed analysis of various self-powered devices by different researchers. [41][42][43][44][45] A notable work is the development of a batteryfree powered wearable sensor based on zinc oxide nanowires. 46 The work reported the modification of zinc oxide nanowires with lactate oxidase.…”

A review of nanomaterials for biosensing applications

“…14 In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has been intertwined with the rapid development of the field of biosensors, improving the performance of traditional biosensors and expanding the functionality of biosensors. 15–18 Unprecedented biosensor opportunities are now available through nanotechnology, utilizing the precise control and manipulation of nanoscale matter. Highly selective detection and quantitative analysis of biomolecules can be achieved by designing and constructing nanomaterials on the nanoscale, improving the synthesis methods of nanomaterials, 19 and constructing biosensors with multifunctionality and high sensitivity from nanomaterials.…”