Development of the BioBattery: A novel enzyme fuel cell using a multicopper oxidase as an anodic enzyme.

ABSTRACT

This work presents the development of an enzyme fuel cell, termed "BioBattery", that utilizes multicopper oxidases as the anodic enzyme in a non-diffusion limited system. We evaluated various enzyme variants as the anode, including multicopper oxidase from Pyrobaculum aerophilum, laccase from Trametes versicolor, and bilirubin oxidase from Myrothecium verrucaria. Several combinations of cathodes were also examined, focusing on the reduction of oxygen as the primary electron acceptor. The optimal pairing used multicopper oxidase from Pyrobaculum aerophilum as the anode and amine reactive phenazine ethosulfate modified bovine serum albumin as the cathode. BioBattery was integrated with our previously developed BioCapacitor, proving capable of consistently powering a 470 µF capacitor, positioning it as a modular power source for wearable and implantable systems. This research work addresses and overcomes some of the fundamental limitations seen in enzyme fuel cells, where power and current are often limited by substrate accessibility to the active electrode surface. (152 words).