Publication Details

AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS

SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH

Computer-aided: Modelled sustainable hybrid catalysts for a nano-drug delivery system

South African Journal of Chemistry, Volume 73, No. 1, Year 2020

We evaluated a hybrid catalytic power source for less invasive internal electroporation with better tissue reach than the widely used and more invasive external electroporation. We modelled how open-circuit voltage optimizes platinum-loading in catalysts to improve the electrochemical activity (ECA) possible from bioelectrogenesis through these systems and address the high costs of nano-drug delivery systems. The effects of the catalysts' convective flux and proton concentration were modelled for an enzyme (glucose oxidase) biofuel cell that was fed glucose substrate at a current rate under isothermal physiological conditions. Glucose concentrations were varied relative to anode catalyst loading models with 0.1-0.5 mg cm-2 platinum and alloyed (Pt-Ru-Ni) with a narrowparticle size distribution. Using the free (solvation) electron model, bioelectrochemical activity (BECA) and a high open circuit voltage were generated by 5.5, 10 and 20mMglucose with 20kUL-1 glucose oxidase at 37°C.BECA(glucose oxidase), on its own, produced pulses of various intensities for nano-microsecond durations whereas the hybrid BECA-ECA (glucose oxidase and platinum) anode catalyst provided sustainable pulses of microseconds-minute durations. Enhanced catalysis with the hybrid BECA-ECA's open circuit voltage favours compatibility of a hybrid-powered nano-drug delivery system for internal electroporation.

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Citations: 3
Authors: 3
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