Nano-biosupercapacitors enable autarkic sensor operation in blood

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Current in-vivo energy storage devices exceed 3 mm³.
• Existing devices cannot continuously power smart dust electronics or microrobotic systems.
• There is a need for miniaturized, self-sufficient power sources for intravascular applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sub-millimeter cubed energy storage device for in-vivo applications.
• To investigate the performance of a tubular biosupercapacitor in a biological environment.
• To demonstrate the capability of the device to power integrated sensor systems.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a tubular nano-biosupercapacitor with a volume of 1 nanoliter.
• Testing the device's voltage output and self-protection capabilities in blood.
• Evaluating the performance enhancement provided by endogenous redox enzymes and cells.
• Integration with a pH-sensing system for in-vivo measurements.

Main Results:

• The tubular nano-biosupercapacitor achieved a volume of 1/1000 mm³ (1 nanoliter).
• The device delivered up to 1.6 V in blood, with enhanced performance due to blood components.
• The tubular design offered self-protection against mechanical forces.
• The powered sensor system successfully measured blood pH.

Conclusions:

• A novel, ultra-miniaturized tubular biosupercapacitor has been successfully developed for in-vivo use.
• The device leverages biological components for improved performance and self-discharge mitigation.
• This technology enables next-generation intravascular implants and microrobotic systems for internal diagnostics and therapeutics.