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Biosensoric potential of microbial fuel cells

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Abstract

Recent progress in microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has highlighted the potential of these devices to be used as biosensors. The advantages of MFC-based biosensors are that they are phenotypic and can function in either assay- or flow-through formats. These features make them appropriate for contiguous on-line monitoring in laboratories and for in-field applications. The selectivity of an MFC biosensor depends on the applied microorganisms in the anodic compartment where electron transfer (ET) between the artificial surface (anode) and bacterium occurs. This process strongly determines the internal resistance of the sensoric system and thus influences signal outcome and response time. Despite their beneficial characteristics, the number of MFC-based biosensoric applications has been limited until now. The aim of this mini-review is to turn attention to the biosensoric potential of MFCs by summarizing ET mechanisms on which recently established and future sensoric devices are based.

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Acknowledgments

The present work was partly supported by the Hungarian Government (MFCDiagn—TECH_08-A1-2008-0279) and the University of Pécs: PTE ÁOK-KA-2013/23.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, Pécs, H 7624, Hungary

    György Schneider

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Nanophagetherapy Center, Enviroinvest Corporation, Kertváros u. 2, Pécs, H 7632, Hungary

    Tamás Kovács

  3. Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, H 6726, Hungary

    Gábor Rákhely

  4. Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, H 6726, Hungary

    Gábor Rákhely

  5. Mediso Medical Imaging Systems, Laborc u. 3, Budapest, H 1037, Hungary

    Miklós Czeller

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  1. György Schneider
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  2. Tamás Kovács
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  4. Miklós Czeller
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Correspondence to György Schneider.

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The present scientific contribution is dedicated to the 650th anniversary of the foundation of the University of Pécs, Hungary.

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Schneider, G., Kovács, T., Rákhely, G. et al. Biosensoric potential of microbial fuel cells. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 100, 7001–7009 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-016-7707-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-016-7707-1

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