New Self-Powered Biosensor Monitors Sugar without Battery

Copyright Tohoku University

Professor Matsuhiko Nishizawa of the Graduate School of Engineering at Tohoku University and Senior Researcher Kenji Hata of the Nanotube Research Center at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have jointly developed a world's-first flexible enzyme electrode film that can be rolled and adhered to other objects and, using the enzyme electrode film, succeeded in generating electricity from aqueous glucose solution at the highest efficiency recorded worldwide. Part of their study was published online in the German scientific journal Advanced Energy Materials in August 2012.

Existing biosensors used in healthcare and merchandise control require large-size batteries that contain metals and solutions harmful to the environment and living organisms. The newly developed enzyme electrode film, which is made from organic materials, is a safe power generating system that directly uses the bio-energy contained in fruit juice or the like. It can also be used as a sensor since its electricity output is proportional to the amount of sugar contained in the fruit juice.

The research group is applying for a patent on its enzyme electrode film technology and recruiting business partners to help with commercializing it.