Biological fuel cell implantable

Figure 7. Biological Fuel Cell. Experimental arrangement for maintaining a copper prosthesis, implanted in the canine thoracic inferior vena cava.

Appleby AJ, Ng DYC, Weinstein H. Parametric study of the anode of an implantable biological fuel cell. J Appl Electrochem 1971 1 79-90. 

Colton CK, Drake RF. Analysis of in vivo deoxygenation of human blood a feasihihty study for an implantable biological fuel cell. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs 1969 15 187-198. 

Fuel cells based on unmediated electrocatalysis by heme-containing sugar dehydrogenases have not yet been tested in biological fluids, but may be useful for implantable applications, as they avoid the need for toxic or expensive mediators and have minimal design constraints. Realistically, the lifetime of biofuel cells is still insufficient for biomedical applications requiring surgical installation. 

Some success with chronic implantation of normally toxic substances has been achieved in fuel cell and hybrid cell biological power source experiments (DeRosa et a/., 1968). Generally, the implanting of toxic metals is to be avoided. 

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