Cited by 224Electrochemical sensors and biosensorsNeuroscience and Neural EngineeringMicrobial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

Challenges for successful implantation of biofuel cells

Open access
Zebda, Abdelkader, Alcaraz, Jean-Pierre, Vadgama, Pankaj, Shleev, Sergey, Minteer, Shelley D., Boucher, François, Cinquin, Philippe, Martin, Donald K.·2018·Bioelectrochemistry

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the design and engineering of operational biofuel cells that can be implanted. This review highlights the recent progress in the electrochemistry of biofuel cell technologies, but with a particular emphasis on the medical and physiological aspects that impact the biocompatibility of biofuel cells operating inside a living body. We discuss the challenge of supplying power to implantable medical devices, with regard to the limitations of lithium battery technology and why implantable biofuel cells can be a promising alternative to provide the levels of power required for medical devices. In addition to the challenge of designing a biofuel cell that provides a stable level of sufficient power, the review highlights the biocompatibility and biofouling problems of implanting a biofuel cell that have a major impact on the availability of the substrates inside body that provide fuel for the biofuel cell. These physiological challenges and associated ethical considerations are essential to consider for biofuel cells that are designed to be implanted for long-term operation inside a living animal and eventually to human clinical applications.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.05.011

Cites

126 of 126 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Li/I2 batteries have been successfully used in cardiac pacemakers due to high discharge voltages reaching up to 3.6 V and energy densities of 210 and 810 W h/L.

    “Although Li/I2 batteries have been successfully used in cardiac pacemakers due to their high discharge voltages reaching up to 3.6 V and impressive energy densities of 210 and 810 W h/L, they are not directly applicable to brain implants (Zebda et al., 2018).”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Zebda et al., 2018

  • Li/I2 batteries are not directly applicable to brain implants.

    “Although Li/I2 batteries have been successfully used in cardiac pacemakers due to their high discharge voltages reaching up to 3.6 V and impressive energy densities of 210 and 810 W h/L, they are not directly applicable to brain implants (Zebda et al., 2018).”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Zebda et al., 2018

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Authors
Zebda, A., Alcaraz, J.-P., Vadgama, P., Shleev, S., Minteer, S. D., Boucher, F., Cinquin, P., & Martin, D. K.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Queen Mary University of London (GB)
  • Malmö University (SE)
  • University of Utah (US)
Corresponding author
Martin, Donald K.
Venue
Bioelectrochemistry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-12
Volume
124
Pages
57-72
ISSN
1567-5394 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2808838311
Cited by
224
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 6
FWCI
1.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Bioelectrochemistry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Malmö University Publications (Malmö University) (submittedVersion)
  • Queen Mary Research Online (Queen Mary University of London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Vetenskapsrådet (621-2013-6006)
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H009744/1)
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-15-CE05-0003-01)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electrochemical sensors and biosensors
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
Keywords
implantable biofuel cells, biocompatibility, biofouling, biomedical implants, ethical considerations, long-term implantation
MeSH terms
Animals, Biocompatible Materials, Bioelectric Energy Sources, Electrodes, Electrochemical Techniques

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