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Development of a Chitosan Scaffold Electrode for Fuel Cell Applications
Author(s) -
Lau Carolin,
Martin Georgianna,
Minteer Shelley D.,
Cooney Michael J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
electroanalysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1521-4109
pISSN - 1040-0397
DOI - 10.1002/elan.200880004
Subject(s) - chitosan , scaffold , amphiphile , malate dehydrogenase , chemistry , chemical engineering , porosity , immobilized enzyme , enzyme , organic chemistry , polymer , copolymer , biomedical engineering , medicine , engineering
Hydrophobically modified chitosan has been proposed for enzyme immobilization and stabilization at bioelectrodes in biofuel cells. In this paper, we analytically evaluate the attributes of employing hydrophobically modified chitosan molded into high porosity scaffolds to improve enzyme activity and mass transport of malate dehydrogenase bioelectrodes. Results suggest that the hydrophobically modified chitosan can alter catalytic activity of malate dehydrogenase and that scaffold structure improves power density over chitosan thin films. Fluorescence measurements are also presented that correlate the improved activity to alterations in the amphiphilic nature of the chemical microenvironment (immediately surrounding the enzyme) that the modified chitosan affords. Commentary is also given on how mass transport through the chitosan matrix can be improved in order to achieve higher power densities.