Deciphering Electron-Shuttling Characteristics of Parkinson’s Disease Medicines via Bioenergy Extraction in Microbial Fuel Cells
Bor‐Yann Chen, Yun-Chen Wu, Yu-Hsiu T. Lin, Lemmuel L. Tayo, Arjay Christopher J. Tacas, Chung‐Chuan Hsueh
Abstract
As ortho- or para-polyhydroxybenzene-bearing aromatics could express bioenergy-stimulating characteristics to microbial fuel cells (MFCs), this novel study specifically selected the Parkinson’s disease (PD)-associated medicines, quantitatively assessing electrochemical characteristics and bioenergy-promoting capabilities for bioenergy extraction. (Bio)electrochemical characteristics of dopamine (DA) and seven representative medicines were evaluated through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and MFCs. DA, L-DOPA (levodopa), and apomorphine (APO) would effectively perform with electron-shuttling characteristics, but others would not. In addition, at appropriate concentrations, trihydroxybenzene-benserazide (BSZ) exhibited antioxidant properties. As MFC results revealed, the rank of bioenergy stimulating capabilities was DA > BSZ > L-DOPA ∼ APO. As electron shuttles (ESs), only polyhydroxybenzenes-associated PD medicines exhibited promising bioelectricity-augmenting performance in MFCs. The numbers of hydroxyl groups (e.g., dihydroxybenzene and trihydroxybenzene) and positions (e.g., ortho- or para-positions) among hydroxyl groups also significantly affected electrochemical activities to stimulate bioenergy extraction. As outstanding ESs, hydroxyhydroquinone, pyrogallol, and hydroquinone could augment bioelectricity generation ca. 4–6 fold in MFCs.