Article ID: 26-00174
Self-powered biosensors that operate independently of external power supplies are gaining significant attention for wearable and point-of-care applications. In this study, we report the development of a totally organic, self-powered glucose sensor based on glucose enzyme electrodes integrated with wireless energy harvesting. The glucose enzyme electrodes were fabricated exclusively from organic and polymer-based materials. The electrodes exhibited stable redox behavior and generated electrical power through the glucose oxidation, showing clear glucose concentration dependent power generation within the 0.0–1.0 mM range. The electrodes were encapsulated in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based case and lid, forming a compact glucose sensor. While the self-powered glucose sensor exhibited a reduction in power output compared to electrode-only measurements, sufficient electrical output for self-powered operation was obtained through employing appropriate electrical configurations. To enable battery-free wireless data transmission, the self-powered organic glucose sensor was coupled with a commercial energy-harvesting wireless transmitter. By employing a series-parallel configuration of multiple sensors, we achieved wireless transmission driven solely by the electrical power generated from glucose oxidation. The wireless transmission rate directly reflected the electrical output of the glucose sensor, allowing glucose concentration-dependent wireless transmission without the use of batteries. Furthermore, the feasibility of glucose sensors for non-invasive glucose sensing was investigated using artificial urine as the electrolyte. The glucose enzyme electrodes exhibited stable electrochemical performance and sustained power generation in artificial urine. The self-powered organic glucose sensor connected with the wireless transmitter demonstrated glucose concentration-dependent responses in the range of 0.0–1.0 mM, consistent with results obtained using buffer solutions. These results indicate that the proposed self-powered organic glucose sensor can function effectively in complex biological media and achieve wireless glucose sensing without external power sources. While further optimization is required to improve power output and robustness, this work provides a foundation of sustainable, battery-free and wearable glucose sensing systems based on organic materials.
