Food Based Nano Conductive Pastes With Algae Biocatalyst for Microbial Fuel Cell Electrodes Screen-Printed on Edible Substrates

Abstract

Edible and ingestible electrodes represent a novel advancement in bioelectronics, enabling noninvasive diagnostics or energy harvesting within living systems. This article pioneers food-based nanoconductive pastes (FN-CoPs) for screen-printed electrodes, evaluates for biodegradability through disintegration studies, biocompatibility via microbial growth assessments, and functionality through electrochemical testing. These food-based electrodes demonstrate energy harvesting capabilities from gut bacteria, confirmed through cyclic voltammetry and polarization studies. FN-CoP electrodes are developed on rice paper and cheese substrates and tested with Lactobacillus and E. coli, with an enhanced power generation upon introducing Nori algae as a biocatalyst. Rice paper/FN-CoP electrodes initially produced 1.29 μW/cm² with E. coli, increasing to 2.09 μW/cm² with the biocatalyst corresponding to an improvement of 61.72%, while Cheese/FN-CoP electrodes generated 2.57 μW/cm², rising to 5.73 μW/cm² with Nori algae biocatalyzer indicating an improvement of 44.85%. A cascade of these biofuel cells powered a red LED in real-time, showcasing their applicability. This innovation advances the potential of ingestible electronics for self-powered continuous health monitoring and personalized treatment. By providing sustainable energy, FN-CoP electrodes pave the way for significant growth in edible and ingestible bioelectronic applications.