Bio-reactive system and method for voltage controlled metabolism

Abstract

Bio-reactive systems for voltage controlled metabolism are described, that include electrochemical-electrostatic systems having a conventional three electrode cell modified with at least one additional gating electrode. The rate of a metabolic process occurring in at least one organism disposed on a working electrode is controllable by applying a gating voltage VG to the at least one gating electrode. A method for voltage controlled metabolism in a bio-reactive electrostatic cell that includes applying a gating voltage VG to at least one gating electrode is also described. The rate of a metabolic process may he controlled by altering at least one of the magnitude and polarity of the applied gating voltage VG. The method for voltage controlled metabolism may further be used to treat cancer and/or increase the rate of ethanol production by fermentation.

1 . An electrostatic bio-reactive system for voltage controlled metabolism, comprising:
 a first electrode, wherein the first electrode comprises a metal, which may be coated with an insulator;   a second electrode electrically connected through an external voltage source providing V G  to the first electrode, wherein the second electrode comprises a metal coated with an insulator; and   at least one organism that is disposed on the first electrode and/or the second electrode, or is suspended in a solution in the presence of the first electrode and the second electrode, the at least one organism operative to cause metabolism of a metabolic substrate; and   the metabolic substrate;   wherein the operation of the system does not involve electric currents;   wherein the produced voltage V G  controls the kinetics of a metabolic reaction performed by the at least one organism on the metabolic substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the organism is yeast. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the organism is algae. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the metabolic substrate is a sugar. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the metabolic substrate is glucose. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode comprises further a plurality of electrically connected electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is included in a biosensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is included in a biofuel cell. 
     
     
         9 - 34 . (canceled)