Wearable energy devices on mask-based printed electrodes for self-powered glucose biosensors

Abstract

Wearable sensor technology is a key to sustainable healthcare systems because of its unique capability to assess a wearer's state of wellbeing. We must continue to explore the sensible integration of sensors into wearable and energy-sustainable systems. This article reveals a new example of self-powered bioelectronics on a mask for continuously monitoring glucose by leveraging printed biofuel-cell-based carbon-nanotube-modified bioelectronics. The bioanode relies on the oxidation of glucose with the assistance of glucose oxidase and tetrathiafulvalene functionalized on the polyaniline-modified electrode, whereas the cathode, with the assistance of platinum-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) materials, utilizes oxygen reduction reaction. The developed flexible electrodes show enhanced capacitance and favorable biocatalytic performances. This mask biodevice yields an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.37 V and achieves a maximum output density of 14 μW cm−2. The applicability to glucose detection shows that the self-powered analytical signal is proportional to the glucose concentration up to 10.00 mM with the limit of detection of 0.22 mM. This self-powered biosensor is also not affected by common interfering agents, such as lactic acid, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and creatinine. It is envisioned that this platform would further improve a wide range of digital e-health diagnostic and physiological monitoring applications.

Keywords

• Wearable sensors
• Glucose
• Biofuel cells
• Self-powered sensors
• Energy harvesting
• Flexible electrodes