Sugar-powered biofuel cell sensor detects and prevents disease

Researchers have developed an implantable sugar-powered biofuel cell sensor to monitor biological signals and detect diseases.

Subhanshu Gupta, an assistant professor in Washington State University's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, led a team in the development of the sensor, which runs on a biofuel cell that harvests glucose from bodily fluids.

The research team has demonstrated a unique integration of the biofuel cell with electronics to process physiological and biochemical signals with high sensitivity. Their work has been published in IEEE Transactions of Circuits and Systems.

Professors Su Ha and Alla Kostyukova from the Gene and Linda School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, led the design of the biofuel cell.

Many popular sensors for disease detection are superficial and can't be embedded, such as watches, which need to be recharged, or patches that are worn on the skin. The sensor developed by the WSU team could also remove the need to prick a finger for testing of certain diseases, such as diabetes.