Conductive polymers and their composites are excellent materials for coupling biological materials and electrodes in bioelectrochemical systems. It is assumed that their relevance and introduction to the field of bioelectrochemical devices will only grow due to their tunable conductivity, easy modification, and biocompatibility. This review analyzes the main trends and trends in the development of the methodology for the application of conductive polymers and their use in biosensors and biofuel elements, as well as describes their future prospects. Approaches to the synthesis of such materials and the peculiarities of obtaining their nanocomposites are presented. Special emphasis is placed on the features of the interfaces of such materials with biological objects.

Microbial biofilms present one of the most widespread forms of life on Earth. The formation of microbial communities on various surfaces presents a major challenge in a variety of fields, including medicine, the food industry, shipping, etc. At the same time, this process can also be used for the benefit of humans—in bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and various biotechnological processes. The main direction of using electroactive microbial biofilms is their incorporation into the composition of biosensor and biofuel cells This review examines the fundamental knowledge acquired about the structure and formation of biofilms, the properties they have when used in bioelectrochemical devices, and the characteristics of the formation of these structures on different surfaces. Special attention is given to the potential of applying the latest advances in genetic engineering in order to improve the performance of microbial biofilm-based devices and to regulate the processes that take place within them. Finally, we highlight possible ways of dealing with the drawbacks of using biofilms in the creation of highly efficient biosensors and biofuel cells.

One of the main indices of the quality of water is the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). A little over 40 years have passed since the practical application of the first microbial sensor for the determination of BOD, presented by the Japanese professor Isao Karube. This time span has brought new knowledge to and practical developments in the use of a wide range of microbial cells based on BOD biosensors. At present, this field of biotechnology is becoming an independent discipline. The traditional BOD analysis (BOD₅) has not changed over many years; it takes no less than 5 days to carry out. Microbial biosensors can be used as an alternative technique for assessing the BOD attract attention because they can reduce hundredfold the time required to measure it. The review examines the experience of the creation and practical application of BOD biosensors accumulated by the international community. Special attention is paid to the use of multiple cell immobilization methods, signal registration techniques, mediators and cell consortia contained in the bioreceptor. We consider the use of nanomaterials in the modification of analytical devices developed for BOD evaluation and discuss the prospects of developing new practically important biosensor models.

The effect of carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, thermally expanded and pyrolytic graphite) on the bioelectrochemical activity of Gluconobacter oxydans bacterial cells was studied during sorption contact with nanomaterials. For bacterial immobilization, the surface of a working bioelectrode was modified via the application of bacterial suspension in the studied nanomaterial and chitosan. The bioelectrochemical electrode characteristics (the amplitude of generated potential, cyclic volt–ampere characteristics, resistance) were estimated before and in the process of bacterial interaction with ethanol (3-electrode measurement scheme). Modification of the spectral graphite electrode by carbon nanotubes allowed a decrease in the resistance of the charge transfer by 48% and an increase in the oxidation current on cyclic volt—ampere characteristics at a voltage of 200 mV by 21% as compared with nonmodified electrode. The thermally expanded and pyrolytic graphite increased the bioelectrode resistance to 4050 and 8447 Ohm cm², respectively. Mathematical modeling demonstrated that from 75 to 100% of biomaterial (depending on the used nanomaterial) were involved in the process of electricity generation with the selected method of the bacterial immobilization. The use of data obtained during the development of microbial biosensors and electrodes of biofuel cells is discussed.

Immobilization of the biocomponent is one of the most important stages in the development of microbial biosensors. In this study, we examined the electrochemical properties of a novel PEDOT:PSS/graphene/Nafion composite used to immobilize Gluconobacter oxydans bacterial cells on the surface of a graphite screen-printed electrode. Bioelectrode responses to glucose in the presence of a redox mediator 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol were studied. The presence of graphene in the composite reduced the negative effect of PEDOT:PSS on cells and improved its conductivity. The use of Nafion enabled maintaining the activity of acetic acid bacteria at the original level for 120 days. The sensitivity of the bioelectrode based on G. oxydans/PEDOT:PSS/graphene/Nafion composite was shown to be 22 μA × mM⁻¹ × cm⁻² within the linear range of glucose concentrations. The developed composite can be used both in designing bioelectrochemical microbial devices and in biotechnology productions for long-term immobilization of microorganisms.