Canadian fuel cell-driven development of yeast in human blood for the energy

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According to the United Kingdom, "New Scientist" magazine reported that scientists have recently said that people of blood glucose for energy in the yeast cells that one day people will be driven into the body of the electronic devices, such as pacemakers. This vivid self-generated power, periodic replacement of batteries in order to replace conventional surgery. Since the University of British Columbia, Canada will be a team of scientists at yeast encapsulation soft capsules, has been developed to such a micro fuel cell micro-organisms, can be applied to the treatment of paralysis of the spinal intracellular microelectrode such electronic devices. engaged in the development of this yeast fuel cell scientists, said spine microelectrodes implanted in the spine necessary therefore very difficult to replace batteries.

The yeast cell through a new division to achieve growth


This fuel cell driven by the yeast


Electrode formed on the "mini-poles" can improve the transmission capacity of fuel cells

To rely on traditional high-temperature fuel cell catalysts such as platinum to electron spin-off from the fuel, resulting in current. And this microbial fuel cell in living cells by taking advantage of the low-temperature catalysts - enzymes to generate a current. The simplest approach is that, when the cells began to break down food when direct "steal" of the electron generated by cells. This approach is in the "e-intermediary" to help achieve the so-called "e-intermediary" is small enough chemicals through the cell access to electronics, but also from the following run out of cells.

The new fuel cell component from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast sealed by poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) material in the capsule, together constitute the fuel cell. Scientists currently developed fuel cells that are Samples micron level, with an area of 15 square microns, 1.4 microns thick. The study published in the latest publication of the results of the "Journal of Microelectronic Systems" on.

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Methylene blue compound used in dyeing of biological samples, Today, University of British Columbia, Canadian scientists will be used for "e-intermediary." When yeast break down glucose, the methylene blue from the yeast cells where the "theft" electronics, electronic delivery of this will be followed by the other side of yeast cells, resulting in a weak current. on the cathode, from yeast cells combine hydrogen and oxygen produced water. to increase the size of the electrode to increase the fuel cell power output, the group using silicon etching techniques to create "mini-poles", which covers an area of about 40 square micron, 8 microns high.

Tested, the yeast can produce fuel-cell around 40 nava electricity, compared to quartz watches generally can produce electron micro-watt power class. Therefore, if the use of the energy storage capacitors, and the yeast will be able to fuel cells some device drivers. this yeast will be genetically modified so that it will have greater power output capability. However, this goal faces many challenges. For instance, let the healthy growth of yeast cells, and its waste cases no damage was cleaned up, so that discharge of harmful substances to human blood.