Passive direct methanol fuel cells acting as fully autonomous electrochemical biosensors: Application to sarcosine detection

This work describes an innovative electrochemical biosensor that advances its autonomy toward equipment-free design. The is powered by a passive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and signals the response via electrochromic display. Briefly, anode side of DMFC power source was modified with layer developed using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) technology to detect sarcosine (an amino acid derivative potential cancer biomarker). anchored on surface carbon electrode (carbon black Pt/Ru, 40:20). done bulk radical polymerization acrylamide, bis-acrylamide, vinyl phosphonic acid. selectively interacted when integrated into (single or multiple, in stack 4), which acted as transducer element concentration-dependent process. Serial assembly hybrid DMFC/biosensor devices triggered external (EC) produced colour change. Calibrations showed from 3.2 2000 µM, compatible concentration blood prostate patients. final DMFC/biosensor-EC platform change perceptible naked eye presence increasing concentrations. controlled operation, making this approach self-controlled self-signalling device. Overall, proof-of-concept for fully autonomous chemical fuel. simple low-cost offers be deployed anywhere particularly suitable point-of-care (POC) analysis.