Review of fungal fuel cells with no reported clinical outcomes or safety data

Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases / Unsplash

Frontiers in Medicine Published May 8, 2026 Medically reviewed May 8, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note that this review lacks reported clinical outcomes, safety data, or specific population details.

This source is a review that discusses fungal fuel cells. The authors note that the population, sample size, and setting are not reported. No primary or secondary outcomes, safety data, or follow-up duration are provided in the text. The review does not establish clinical efficacy or safety for any specific condition.

The main results section contains no specific findings, effect sizes, or qualitative conclusions regarding patient outcomes. The text explicitly states that adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability are not reported. There are no limitations listed by the authors regarding the review methodology or data synthesis.

No funding sources or conflicts of interest are disclosed. The practice relevance is not reported, and the review does not offer specific guidance for clinicians. Causality is not addressed, and the certainty of any claims is not defined. The input data lacks the necessary details to support clinical recommendations or to describe a specific disease process.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Heavy metal contamination of soil and water is an escalating global environmental issue driven by industrialization and poor waste management. This problem is no longer confined to urban areas, as even small towns are grappling with severe heavy metal contamination, posing substantial threats to human health and aquatic ecosystems. To address these issues, fungal fuel cells have become one of the most promising and environmental friendly technologies. This technology is at the forefront of efforts to combat heavy metal contamination. This method utilizes the unique properties of fungi at the biocathode to treat contaminants and remove heavy metals from soil and water. In addition to reducing pollution, this technology has the capacity to generate electrical current which can serve as an alternative to conventional remediation methods. This review aims to provide a general overview of the fungal fuel cells as a method of bioremediation to remove toxic heavy metals and while simultaneously generating electricity. This review is based on a critical analysis of the recent peer-reviewed publications focusing on the development, operation, and application of fungal fuel cells in heavy metal remediation and bioelectricity production. By exploring the potential of fungal fuel cells, the review provides insight into a future where heavy metal pollution is effectively curtailed while contributing to sustainable energy production, thereby fostering a cleaner and healthier environment.