Fuel cells including biocompatible membranes and metal anodes

A fuel cell comprising:

• an anode compartment including an anode and a metal fuel;
• a cathode compartment including a cathode;
• and disposed within said anode compartment, within said cathode compartment, or between said anode compartment and said cathode compartment, at least one biocompatible membrane that is impervious to the passage of metals and metal ions having at least one layer of a synthetic polymer material which includes an anode side and a cathode side and at least one polypeptide associated therewith, said polypeptide capable of participating in a chemical reaction, participating in the transporting of protons from said anode side of said at least one layer to said cathode side of said at least one layer, or participating in the formation of molecular structures that facilitate such reactions or transport.