Russian and Swedish scientists develop self-contained cells for biomedicine

A Russo-Swedish research group has developed microscopic biofuel cells, implanted in the rat brain, a prototype of what might in future evolve as a self-contained device for biomedical purposes

A Russo-Swedish research group has developed microscopic glucose and oxygen powered biofuel cells and implanted those in the brains of rats, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported earlier this week. The results of the research have been published in Scientific Reports, which is part of the Nature Publishing Group. ?We have completed one of the first scientific efforts aimed at implanting biofuel cells into living mammals, using microscale nanostructured electrodes,? said Sergei Shleev, a research fellow at Russia?s Kurchatov Institute in Moscow and Sweden?s University of Malmo. Prior to this set of experiments, all in-vivo biofuel cell implantations were based on macroscopic devices only. Using microscopic cells is believed to cause minimal damage to living tissues. Biofuel cells generate electrical current by converting chemical energy into electricity. ?In this work, we use the chemical energy of living organisms drawn from glucose and oxygen dissolved in an organism?s physiological liquids,? Mr...