Detection of glucose and related analytes by biosensors: a fractal analysis

A fractal analysis is used to model the binding and dissociation kinetics of connective tissue interstitial glucose, adipose tissue interstitial glucose, insulin, and other related analytes on biosensor surfaces. The analysis provides insights into diffusion-limited analyte-receptor reactions occurring on heterogeneous biosensor surfaces. Numerical values obtained for the binding and the dissociation rate coefficients are linked to the degree of heterogeneity or roughness [fractal dimension (D(f))] present on the biosensor chip surface. The binding and dissociation rate coefficients are sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity on the surface. For example, for the binding of plasma insulin, as the fractal dimension value increases by a factor of 2.47 from D(f1)=0.6827 to D(f2)=1.6852, the binding rate coefficient increases by a factor of 4.92 from k(1)=1.0232 to k(2)=5.0388. An increase in the degree of heterogeneity on the probe surface leads to an increase in the binding rate coefficient. A dual-fractal analysis is required to fit the binding kinetics in most of the cases presented. A single fractal analysis is adequate to describe the dissociation kinetics. Affinity (ratio of the binding to the dissociation rate coefficient) values are also presented. Interferents for glucose, such as uric acid and ascorbic acid, were also detected by using glucose biosensors based on carbon nanotube (CNT) nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs) (Lin Y, Lu F, Tu Y, Ren Z).