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Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are thin-film devices operated in aqueous and biological environments for sensing chemicals and biomolecules. However, most sensor configurations involve introducing the target biomolecule directly in the OECT device. This has drawbacks because it may not be possible to have an electrolyte compatible with the target biomolecule or an environment optimal for the OECT. Here, we demonstrate a general and modular approach to building electrochemical sensors by coupling OECTs electronically with either an enzymatic fuel cell (EFC) or microbial fuel cell (MFC). We demonstrate that this modular approach can amplify currents by three orders of magnitude and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. We also show that the power generated by the fuel cell can help tune the sensor’s response for different applications. This work demonstrates a simple and versatile approach for amplifying currents from MFCs and EFCs useful for the development of bioelectronic sensors. 

Abstract There is a need for rapid, sensitive, specific, and low‐cost virus sensors. Recent work has demonstrated that organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) can detect the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) spike protein. Here, a simple and low‐cost approach to the fabrication of OECT devices with excellent stability and unprecedented sensitivity and specificity for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus is demonstrated. The devices rely on the engineered protein minibinder LCB1, which binds strongly to SARS‐CoV‐2. The resulting devices exhibit excellent sensitivity for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus and SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD). These results demonstrate a simple, effective, and low‐cost biomolecular sensor applicable to the real‐time detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus and a general strategy for OECT device design that can be applied for the detection of other pathogenic viruses.