title: Contact lens biofuel cell tested in a synthetic tear solution.
abstract: A contact lens biofuel cell was fabricated using buckypaper electrodes cured on a silicone elastomer soft contact lens. The buckypaper anode consisted of poly(methylene green) and a hydrogel matrix containing lactate dehydrogenase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrate (NAD(+)). The buckypaper cathode was modified with 1-pyrenemethyl anthracene-2-carboxylate, and then bilirubin oxidase was immobilized within a polymer. Contact lens biofuel cell testing was performed in a synthetic tear solution at 35°C. The open circuit voltage was 0.413±0.06 V and the maximum current and power density were 61.3±2.9 µA cm(-2) and 8.01±1.4 µWc m(-2), respectively. Continuous operation for 17h revealed anode instability as output current rapidly decreased in the first 4h and then stabilized for the next 13 h. The contact lens biofuel cell presented here is a step toward achieving self-powered electronic contact lenses and ocular devices with an integrated power source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, State of Utah Center of Excellence for Biomedical Microfluidics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Russell C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Shelley D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Minteer
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, State of Utah Center of Excellence for Biomedical Microfluidics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. Electronic address: bruce.gale@utah.edu.
authors.forename: Bruce K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Gale
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003261:Contact Lenses; D004566:Electrodes; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000737:chemistry; D009243:NAD / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D009243:NAD; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Buckypaper; Contact lens; Enzymatic biofuel cell