We report a biodegradable, self-powered sensor for measurement of dissolved oxygen in the body. The principle of operation is the competition of an oxygen reduction reaction against the ordinarily dominant hydrogen reduction reaction at the cathode of a corroding electrochemical couple. Because the relative contribution of the oxygen reduction reaction to the overall electrochemical reaction depends on the local oxygen concentration, the output voltage of the couple is also dependent on local oxygen concentration. The sensor is formed by embedding the biodegradable metals magnesium and molybdenum within a biodegradable poly(lactic acid) substrate using lamination; external physiological solution is utilized as the electrolyte. The output voltage of the sensor (i.e., the voltage generated across the corroding couple) was measured as a function of oxygen concentration over typical physiological oxygen concentration ranges of 0–60% that of atmospheric oxygen. A linear output voltage response of approximately 6 mV per percentage point oxygen concentration was observed; oxygen concentrations above this range resulted in sensor saturation. [2020-0192]

中文翻译：

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自供电、可生物降解的溶解氧微型传感器

我们报告了一种可生物降解的自供电传感器，用于测量体内溶解氧。工作原理是氧还原反应与腐蚀电化学偶阴极上通常占主导地位的氢还原反应的竞争。因为氧还原反应对整个电化学反应的相对贡献取决于局部氧浓度，所以电偶的输出电压也取决于局部氧浓度。该传感器是通过层压将可生物降解的金属镁和钼嵌入可生物降解的聚（乳酸）基板中形成的；外部生理溶液用作电解质。传感器的输出电压（即 在腐蚀偶两端产生的电压）被测量为氧浓度的函数，典型生理氧浓度范围为大气氧浓度的 0-60%。观察到每百分点氧浓度约 6 mV 的线性输出电压响应；高于此范围的氧气浓度导致传感器饱和。[2020-0192]