Glucose is an uninterruptible power supply
Scientists have improved "sugar batteries"
These elements can be used in the future to power spinal cord implants that will allow paralyzed patients to move their limbs again. The researchers' paper (A Glucose Fuel Cell for Implantable Brain–Machine Interfaces) is published in the journal PLoS ONE.
The batteries developed by scientists are placed on silicon plates, to which the remaining necessary elements of the electrical network can be connected to work inside the implant. The batteries generate an electric current due to the electrons of glucose molecules. The idea of using glucose as a "fuel" is not new: in the 1970s, a heart rate driver (pacemaker) was created, running on a "sugar battery". However, this development has been supplanted by lithium batteries capable of generating a much more powerful electric current for a longer time. In addition, glucose batteries required the participation of too many enzymes of the human body and were considered impractical with prolonged use.
MIT researchers led by Rahul Sarpeshkar, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, used the same technology as in the production of electronic semiconductor chips. The "batteries" created by them do not contain biological components. They consist of platinum catalysts, since platinum has proven itself well as an element capable of long-term biocompatibility with the human body. Catalysts accelerate the oxidation of glucose molecules, just as if it were happening in cells where enzymes are active that break down glucose to produce ATP, the main source of energy for biochemical processes.
As a result, these batteries can generate several hundred microwatts – this is enough to power neurological implants.
The size of the largest of the batteries glued to the substrate is 64x64 mm (illustration from the MIT New energy source for future medical implants: sugar press release) – VM.
"In a few years, patients with spinal cord injuries receiving such implants as part of standard medical care will become commonplace," says Benjamin Rapoport, an employee of Sarpeskar's laboratory, one of the authors of the development. – Our calculations show that these batteries will be able to get all the glucose needed for work from the cerebrospinal fluid – it contains a large amount of glucose that is not used by the body. There are also very few cells in the cerebrospinal fluid, so the risk that implants can cause a strong immune response is extremely low."
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru15.06.2012