A non-compartmentalized glucose vertical bar O-2 biofuel cell by bioengineered electrode surfaces

A novel plucose /O-2 biofuel cell element was assembled by the engineering of layered bioelectrocatalytic electrodes. The anode consists of a surface reconstituted glucose oxidase monolayer, whereas the cathode is presented b y the reconstituted cytochrome cytochrome oxidase couple. At the GOx monola yer-functionalized electrode, bioelectrocatalyzed oxidation of glucose to g luconic acid occurs, whereas at the Cyt c / COx layered electrode, the redu ction of O-2 to water takes place. The alignment of the glucose oxidase mon olayer on the electrode surface yields an extremely efficient electrical co mmunication, and the electron transfer turnover Fare between the redox-cent er and the conductive support leads to an oxygen insensitive enzyme electro de. This enables the operation of the biofuel cell without the compartmenta lization of the anode and the cathode. The system paves the way to tailorin g invasive biofuel cells for generating electrical power. The analysis of t he interfacial electron transfer processes of the electrodes suggests that by appropriate generic engineering of the proteins, and appropriate chemica l architecturing of the redox-proteins on the electrodes, the extracted pow er of the biofuel cell element could be further improved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.