Open Access Article
Mohamed Abu Shuheila,
Thamer Hanib,
Roopashree Rc,
Subhashree Rayd,
Baraa Mohammed Yaseene,
Kavitha Vf,
Renu Sharmag,
Aashna Sinhah and
Amir Arsalanirad
*i
aFaculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
bDepartment of Dental Medicine, College of Dental Medicine, AL-Turath University, Baghdad, Iraq
cDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
dDepartment of Biochemistry, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O' Anusandhan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751003, India
eDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technics, College of Health and Medical Technology, Alnoor University, Mosul, Iraq
fDepartment of Chemistry, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
gDepartment of Chemistry, University Institute of Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
hSchool of Applied and Life Sciences, Division of Research and Innovation, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
iYoung Researchers and Elite Club, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: amirarsalaniradacademic@gmail.com
First published on 26th February 2026
Accurate glucose sensing in nanozyme-based platforms is fundamentally governed by the coupled interplay between mass transport and surface-confined catalytic reactions, particularly in systems characterized by intrinsic nanoscale heterogeneity. In this work, a pseudo-two-dimensional (pseudo-2D) multiphysics modeling framework is developed to elucidate diffusion-reaction interactions in Ti3C2Tx@Pt MXene-based glucose biosensors by explicitly resolving two-dimensional diffusion of glucose and hydrogen peroxide in the electrolyte while confining pseudo-enzymatic reactions to laterally heterogeneous Pt catalytic domains described by Michaelis–Menten kinetics. The simulations demonstrate that non-uniform Pt site distributions induce pronounced local substrate depletion, lateral concentration gradients, and an effective thickening of the diffusion layer, resulting in transport bottlenecks that are not captured by conventional one-dimensional models. As a consequence, the pseudo-2D framework predicts a systematic reduction in effective glucose flux, premature saturation of the sensor response, and significant shifts in apparent kinetic parameters, including an increased effective Michaelis constant and a decreased maximum reaction rate, despite identical mean catalyst loading. In addition, the model reveals enhanced accumulation and delayed transport of hydrogen peroxide within the diffusion layer, directly modulating colorimetric signal intensity and response dynamics. Quantitative comparison with experimentally reported UV-vis absorbance spectra and electrochemical response trends shows excellent agreement across physiologically relevant glucose concentrations, confirming the predictive capability of the proposed approach. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of lateral catalyst dispersion in governing mass transport limitations, apparent kinetics, and sensing performance, and establish the pseudo-2D multiphysics framework as a computationally efficient and physically rigorous tool for the rational design and optimization of heterogeneous MXene nanozyme-based glucose biosensors.
Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) (particularly Ti3C2Tx) represent a transformative class of materials in nanozyme design and advanced biosensing due to their high conductivity, large surface area, hydrophilic surface terminations, and facile surface functionalization.8,9 These features promote efficient electron transport and abundant active sites, which are key for enhancing catalytic efficiency and lowering detection limits.10,11 MXene-based composites integrated with noble metal nanoparticles (e.g., Pt, Au) have shown remarkable peroxidase-like activity and improved electrochemical responses for glucose detection, achieving wide linear ranges and low limits of detection (LOD).12,13
Despite these material advances, sensor performance is fundamentally governed by mass transport dynamics and heterogeneous catalytic interactions at the nanozyme interface. Traditional modeling techniques often employ one-dimensional (1D) assumptions of homogeneous surfaces and uniform activity,14 which inadequately capture the complex interplay between lateral heterogeneity of active sites, diffusion gradients, and reaction kinetics. Recent reports emphasize that non-uniform distributions of catalytic clusters and nanozyme morphology can drastically influence substrate accessibility and effective kinetic parameters, highlighting the limitations of simplified models in predicting sensor behavior.15,16
To bridge this gap, multiphysics modeling approaches have been developed to resolve coupled mass transport and surface reaction phenomena in more realistic geometries.17–19 For example, mesoscopic studies integrating microkinetic frameworks and transport effects elucidate how catalyst roughness and lateral heterogeneities affect selectivity and reaction pathways in related electrocatalytic systems.20 Extending such modeling to nanozyme-based glucose sensing platforms offers critical insight into how diffusion-limited transport and pseudo-enzymatic kinetics collectively govern sensor outputs, such as apparent Michaelis–Menten constants (Km) and maximum reaction rates.21,22
The pseudo-two-dimensional (pseudo-2D) multiphysics model adopted here explicitly accounts for diffusion in both lateral and vertical directions above a heterogeneous Ti3C2Tx@Pt nanozyme-modified surface.23 By confining catalytic reactions to the solid–liquid boundary and allowing two-dimensional diffusion in the overlying domain, the model effectively captures surface clustering effects without resorting to computationally expensive full 3D simulations. Such an approach has been shown to reveal significant deviations in mass transport profiles, effective diffusion layer thickness, and aggregated kinetic behavior compared to traditional 1D formulations.24–26 These deviations are especially pronounced when lateral gradients, induced by heterogeneous distributions of active Pt sites, give rise to transport-controlled flux limitation and substrate depletion “hot-spots” that reduce effective substrate availability at the nanozyme surface.
Furthermore, integrating realistic H2O2 transport and consumption dynamics is essential for colorimetric response prediction, as intermediate buildup and delayed outward diffusion contribute to signal modulation.27–29 Similarly, electrochemical reactions (involving direct glucose oxidation at the electrode interface) are sensitive to catalytic site density and transport-limited flux, affecting overall current responses.30–32 Consequently, pseudo-2D frameworks that account for spatially varying surface reactivity provide a more accurate mechanistic basis for interpreting experimental calibration curves and for guiding optimization strategies based on nanozyme dispersion and morphology.
In this work, a pseudo-two-dimensional (pseudo-2D) multiphysics model is developed to quantitatively investigate the role of lateral surface heterogeneity on mass transport and pseudo-enzymatic kinetics in a Ti3C2Tx@Pt nanozyme-based glucose sensing platform. The model, implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics, explicitly couples two-dimensional diffusion of glucose and hydrogen peroxide in the electrolyte with surface-confined Michaelis–Menten reaction kinetics at spatially heterogeneous catalytic domains. Key parameters, including Pt cluster size, inter-cluster spacing, surface coverage, diffusion layer thickness, apparent (Km), and effective reaction rates, are systematically evaluated. By comparing pseudo-2D predictions with conventional 1D formulations and experimental calibration data, this study aims to elucidate how nanoscale catalyst distribution governs effective kinetic parameters and sensor sensitivity, thereby providing a predictive framework for the rational design and optimization of high-performance nanozyme-based glucose biosensors.
The lower boundary at y = 0 represents the Ti3C2Tx@Pt nanocomposite surface, where pseudo-enzymatic reactions occur exclusively. The upper boundary at y = H interfaces with the well-stirred bulk solution, maintaining constant analyte concentrations. Lateral boundaries at x = 0 and x = L are treated as symmetry or no-flux conditions to simulate periodic repetition of the surface features. This pseudo-2D formulation approximates the three-dimensional complexity of the nanocomposite surface by confining reactions to the y = 0 boundary while allowing two-dimensional diffusion in the overlying solution layer. The geometry strikes a balance between capturing lateral heterogeneities in catalytic activity and avoiding the prohibitive computational cost of full three-dimensional simulations.
The species tracked include glucose (Glu) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the latter being both a product of enzymatic glucose oxidation and a substrate for the peroxidase-like activity of the Ti3C2Tx@Pt nanozyme. For colorimetric simulations, the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) is implicitly incorporated through the H2O2 consumption rate, whereas electrochemical simulations focus on direct electrooxidation of glucose at the modified electrode.
![]() | (1) |
The pseudo-2D approximation is invoked by the scale separation inherent to the system: lateral gradients are significantly weaker than vertical ones in the bulk of the diffusion layer, i.e., |∂Ci/∂x| ≪ |∂Ci/∂y|, except in close proximity to the heterogeneous boundary where localized Pt nanoparticle clusters induce modest x-directional variations. This enables retention of two-dimensional diffusion while confining catalytic reactions exclusively to the y = 0 boundary, avoiding the computational demands of fully three-dimensional heterogeneous modeling.
At the reactive surface (y = 0), diffusive flux from the solution phase is balanced by the heterogeneous reaction rate:
![]() | (2) |
![]() | (3) |
| RH2O2 = kGODCGlu,s | (4) |
For direct glucose electrooxidation in the electrochemical mode, an analogous heterogeneous Michaelis–Menten form is adopted:35
![]() | (5) |
![]() | (6) |
Yielding effective one-dimensional profiles. Similarly, the effective surface concentration Ceffi,s(t) =
i(0, t) and effective flux
enable fitting of apparent kinetic parameters (Keffm, Veffmax) via:36
![]() | (7) |
These governing equations, solved via finite elements with adaptive meshing near the reactive boundary, provide a mechanistic bridge between nanoscale surface heterogeneity and sensor-level performance metrics, elucidating transport-kinetic interplay without invoking empirical corrections.
For clarity, quantities reported in normalized or relative form (e.g., Vmax,eff) are explicitly defined here. Normalized values are obtained by scaling the effective quantity by its corresponding reference value predicted by the uniform 1D model under identical conditions. Specifically, the normalized effective maximum rate is defined as Vmax,eff/Vmax,1D, where Vmax,1D denotes the maximum rate extracted from the conventional one-dimensional uniform-surface model. This normalization is employed to isolate the impact of transport and surface heterogeneity effects from absolute parameter values and to enable direct comparison between modeling frameworks. Using normalized quantities facilitates comparison across models and highlights relative transport-induced penalties, independent of absolute kinetic scaling.
![]() | (8) |
For H2O2 in the colorimetric pathway, production from glucose oxidase (GOD)-catalyzed oxidation and consumption by the nanozyme are balanced:
![]() | (9) |
| Ci(y = H) = Ci,bulk | (10) |
Reflecting the constant reservoir concentrations used in experiments. Lateral boundaries (x = 0, L) enforce no-flux conditions:
![]() | (11) |
The model is implemented in a finite element framework, with mesh refinement near y = 0 to resolve steep concentration gradients within the diffusion layer. Steady-state solutions are obtained for concentration-response analyses, while time-dependent simulations capture transient behaviors such as response delays. To facilitate quantitative comparisons, spatially averaged concentrations are computed as:
![]() | (12) |
Effective surface concentrations and fluxes are similarly averaged over the x-direction:
![]() | (13) |
![]() | (14) |
These averaged quantities enable direct extraction of apparent kinetic parameters (meffm, Veffmax) by fitting the effective reaction rate Reff = Jeff to a Michaelis–Menten form.
This methodological framework provides a robust platform for investigating how surface heterogeneity modulates mass transport limitations and apparent catalytic efficiency, offering insights beyond uniform-surface assumptions prevalent in traditional 1D models.
| Parameter | Symbol | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain length (representative surface segment) | L | 10 | µm |
| Diffusion layer thickness | H | 100 | µm |
| Glucose diffusion coefficient | DGlu | 6.7 × 10−10 | m2 s−1 |
| Hydrogen peroxide diffusion coefficient | DH2O2 | 1.5 × 10−9 | m2 s−1 |
| Intrinsic Michaelis constant (colorimetric mode) | Km | 2.5 | mM |
| Maximum turnover rate per Pt site (colorimetric) | Vmax | 1.2 × 105 | s−1 |
| Effective first-order GOD rate constant | kGOD | 0.015 | s−1 |
| Intrinsic Michaelis constant (electrochemical mode) | Km,el | 3.8 | mM |
| Maximum turnover rate (electrochemical) | Vmax,el | 8.5 × 104 | s−1 |
| Mean Pt active site density | ΓPt,mean | 1.2 × 10−9 | mol cm−2 |
| Amplitude of Pt site density variation | AΓ | 0.5 × ΓPt,mean | mol cm−2 |
| Operating potential (electrochemical) | Eop | 0.7 | V vs. Ag/AgCl |
| Temperature | T | 310 | K (37 °C) |
| Bulk concentration range (simulated) | Cbulk | 0.01–12 | mM |
These parameters were held constant throughout all simulations unless explicitly stated otherwise. Sensitivity analyses confirmed that the model predictions are most sensitive to Km, ΓPt,mean and the amplitude of surface heterogeneity, which control the apparent thickening of the diffusion layer and the shift in effective kinetic parameters. All simulations were performed using quadratic finite elements with adaptive mesh refinement near y = 0 to ensure gradient resolution within the first 5 µm of the boundary layer.
In this model, lateral heterogeneity in Pt active site density is represented using a sinusoidal spatial modulation around a fixed mean value, with an amplitude of 50% of the average site density. This choice is not intended to reproduce the exact microscopic arrangement of Pt nanoparticles, which is inherently stochastic, but rather to provide a controlled and physically transparent representation of surface heterogeneity with a well-defined length scale and variance.
The sinusoidal form offers two practical advantages. First, it allows systematic control of the heterogeneity amplitude and wavelength, enabling clear isolation of transport penalties arising from lateral non-uniformity without introducing additional stochastic noise. Second, it represents a lower-bound, smoothly varying heterogeneity profile; more irregular or patchy distributions would be expected to generate equal or stronger local depletion effects for the same variance in site density. Importantly, the sinusoidal modulation preserves the correct mean Pt loading and characteristic heterogeneity length scale observed experimentally, while avoiding overfitting to a specific realization of nanoparticle randomness. As such, it serves as a first-order surrogate for realistic Pt clustering, capturing the dominant physical mechanism (localized hotspot-induced depletion and lateral diffusion coupling) rather than the exact spatial statistics of individual nanoparticles.
![]() | ||
| Fig. 1 Comparison of simulated and experimental UV-vis absorbance spectra as a function of wavelength at different glucose concentrations34 for model validation. | ||
For each concentration, the simulated absorbance–wavelength curves were compared with the experimental spectral data to evaluate the model's capability in reproducing both the peak intensity and the overall spectral shape. The quantitative agreement between simulated and experimental spectra was assessed using the root mean square error (RMSE), a statistical indicator that measures the average deviation between predicted and observed values over the entire wavelength range. RMSE is defined as
![]() | (15) |
Across the three simulated concentrations, the maximum RMSE did not exceed 0.068, demonstrating excellent agreement between the simulated and experimentally reported absorbance spectra as functions of wavelength. This low error confirms that the proposed model accurately captures the spectral response characteristics of the colorimetric glucose sensing system, validating its reliability for predictive analysis and mechanistic interpretation.
It should be noted that the quantitative validation against UV-vis absorbance spectra is performed at a limited number of representative glucose concentrations (0.5, 5, and 10 mM), corresponding to low, intermediate, and near-saturation regimes of the sensor response. This selection reflects the availability of experimentally reported full spectral data rather than an exhaustive concentration sweep. Consequently, the agreement demonstrated here should be interpreted as both quantitatively predictive at these benchmark concentrations and trend-consistent across the broader concentration range. Within this framework, the low RMSE values (<0.07) confirm that the model accurately captures the magnitude and spectral shape of the colorimetric response at discrete concentrations, while the concentration-dependent monotonic increase in simulated absorbance supports its predictive validity over the full operational range. Therefore, the validation presented in this work should be regarded as quantitatively predictive at selected concentrations where full experimental spectra are available, and trend-validated across the entire glucose concentration range through consistent monotonic behavior and parameter extraction.
![]() | (16) |
Except within a thin region adjacent to the reactive surface. The magnitude of lateral gradients is governed by the characteristic heterogeneity length scale (λ), defined by the average Pt cluster size or inter-cluster spacing, relative to the diffusion layer thickness (H). A convenient dimensionless parameter to assess the validity of the pseudo-2D approximation is the lateral-to-vertical diffusion ratio:
![]() | (17) |
For the Ti3C2Tx@Pt nanozyme system considered here, Pt nanoparticles typically exhibit diameters of 30–80 nm with inter-cluster spacings below 200 nm, while the effective diffusion layer thickness under quiescent experimental conditions ranges from 50 to 150 µm. These values yield Π in the range of 10−6–10−4, indicating a strong separation of scales and placing the system well within the pseudo-2D validity regime. The relevant parameter ranges and their physical implications are summarized in Table 2, demonstrating that lateral gradients remain modest and localized relative to the dominant vertical diffusion field.
| Parameter | Symbol | Typical range (this work) | Threshold for pseudo-2D validity | Physical implication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diffusion layer thickness | H | 50–150 µm | H ≫ λ | Vertical diffusion dominates |
| Pt cluster size | dpt | 30–80 nm | dpt ≪ H | Localized surface heterogeneity |
| Inter-cluster spacing | λ | 100–200 nm | λ/H ≪ 0.01 | Rapid lateral equilibration |
| Surface coverage (Pt) | θ | 10–40% | θ > 5% | Avoids isolated micro-domains |
| Lateral diffusion ratio | Π = λ2/H2 | 10−6–10−4 | Π ≪ 1 | Pseudo-2D regime |
| Dominant transport | — | Diffusion-limited | No forced convection | Validates diffusion-only model |
Breakdown of the pseudo-2D approximation is expected when the heterogeneity length scale becomes comparable to the diffusion layer thickness (λ/H ≳ 0.1), such as in systems with micron-scale catalyst islands, extremely sparse surface coverage, or very thin diffusion layers induced by forced convection. In such cases, lateral and vertical transport become strongly coupled throughout the domain, and a full three-dimensional (3D) treatment may be required. Conceptually, the pseudo-2D approach occupies an intermediate position between conventional one-dimensional (1D) uniform-surface models and fully resolved 3D simulations. Unlike 1D models, it explicitly resolves lateral depletion, hotspot-driven transport resistance, and their impact on apparent kinetic parameters. Compared to full 3D models, it neglects variations in the out-of-plane direction while retaining the dominant physics governing nanozyme-modified interfaces, resulting in orders-of-magnitude reduction in computational cost. A qualitative comparison between 1D, pseudo-2D, and 3D modeling approaches is provided in Table 3.
| Feature | 1D uniform model | Pseudo-2D model (this work) | Full 3D model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lateral heterogeneity | ✗ Ignored | ✓ Explicitly resolved | ✓ Fully resolved |
| Vertical diffusion | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Out-of-plane variations | ✗ | ✗ (Homogenized) | ✓ |
| Computational cost | Very low | Moderate | Very high |
| Captures hotspot depletion | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suitable for nanoscale Pt clusters | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Practical for parametric sweeps | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Overall, the pseudo-2D approximation is physically justified for nanozyme-based glucose biosensors characterized by nanoscale Pt heterogeneity, moderate to thick diffusion layers, and diffusion-dominated transport, conditions that closely correspond to the experimental regime investigated in this study.
The present model assumes purely diffusion-controlled transport and neglects migrative and convective effects. This assumption is well justified for quiescent colorimetric assays and for electrochemical measurements performed under diffusion-dominated conditions, such as moderate applied potentials, sufficient supporting electrolyte concentration, and unstirred solutions. Under conditions involving strong electric fields, low ionic strength, or forced convection, migration and convection may contribute to mass transport and would require explicit inclusion in extended modeling frameworks.
, where averaging is performed across the lateral direction to yield an effective one-dimensional representation. In the reference 1D uniform-surface model, the profile displays a monotonic decrease from the bulk value (normalized to 1) at y = H to a surface value of approximately 0.20 Cbulk at y = 0, reflecting classical diffusion-limited depletion under uniform catalytic consumption (Fig. 2).
![]() | ||
| Fig. 2 Vertically averaged normalized glucose concentration profiles predicted by one-dimensional and pseudo-two-dimensional models along the diffusion layer. | ||
Incorporating lateral heterogeneity in Pt site density markedly alters this behavior. The pseudo-2D profile exhibits a steeper initial gradient near the surface, with the normalized averaged concentration dropping to ∼0.10 at y = 0. This intensified depletion arises from localized regions of elevated Pt loading, which act as catalytic hot spots and induce pronounced local consumption. Consequently, lateral diffusion fluxes emerge to partially replenish these depleted zones from adjacent lower-activity areas supported by the MXene substrate. Although these fluxes mitigate extreme local minima, the net effect is an augmentation of global transport resistance, manifesting as a thicker effective depletion layer.
Quantitatively, the distance required for the averaged concentration to recover to 99% of Cbulk increases by ∼30% compared to the 1D case, highlighting the role of surface non-uniformity in amplifying apparent mass transfer limitations. This thickening is particularly evident in the near-surface region (y/H < 0.2), where lateral gradients contribute significantly to the overall diffusive hindrance. Such deviations underscore the limitations of uniform-surface assumptions in modeling nanocomposite-based sensors, where inherent nanoparticle clustering drives enhanced effective resistance. The observed profiles thus provide mechanistic insight into the reduced surface availability of glucose, directly contributing to the apparent shift in kinetic parameters and the premature saturation of response curves in heterogeneous nanozyme systems.
![]() | (18) |
(y) recovers to 99% of the bulk concentration, is increased by approximately 30–45% relative to the uniform 1D prediction, depending on the amplitude of site density variation.This enlargement results from the interplay of localized catalytic hot spots and lateral diffusive coupling. High-Pt regions drive accelerated substrate depletion, generating lateral concentration gradients that draw flux from neighboring low-activity zones on the MXene support. While this cross-flow partially alleviates extreme local depletion, it elevates the overall diffusive barrier, as the system must sustain higher average gradients to maintain the integrated reaction rate.
Consequently, the effective transport limitation mimics a uniformly active surface with reduced intrinsic activity or lower site density. This phenomenon explains the observed shift toward higher apparent Keffm and diminished Veffmax, as the heterogeneous architecture imposes an additional resistance layer not captured in conventional uniform models. Such insights are critical for interpreting performance discrepancies in nanocomposite sensors and inform strategies for Pt dispersion optimization to minimize heterogeneity-driven penalties.
, quantifies the integrated substrate delivery rate across the heterogeneous surface. In the 1D uniform model, Jeff follows classical Michaelis–Menten saturation, approaching the kinetic limit at high bulk concentrations due to uniform site availability (Fig. 3).
![]() | ||
| Fig. 3 Effective normalized glucose flux as a function of bulk glucose concentration predicted by one-dimensional and pseudo-two-dimensional models. | ||
The pseudo-2D simulations reveal a distinctly earlier saturation onset, with Jeff reaching only ∼70% of the 1D maximum at 10 mM Cbulk. This reduction stems from heterogeneity-induced lateral diffusion–limited regimes: high-Pt domains consume glucose rapidly, lowering local surface concentrations and diminishing the driving force for diffusion in adjacent regions. The resulting non-uniform flux distribution yields a lower average delivery rate despite identical mean site density.
Consequently, the response curve flattens prematurely, mirroring experimental observations of extended but transport-constrained linear ranges in Ti3C2Tx@Pt-based sensors.34 This flux attenuation directly contributes to the apparent decrease in catalytic efficiency, emphasizing the critical influence of nanoparticle dispersion on overall sensor throughput.
, exhibits pronounced accumulation near the reactive surface due to the balance between local production and heterogeneous consumption (Fig. 4).
![]() | ||
| Fig. 4 Vertically averaged normalized hydrogen peroxide concentration profiles within the diffusion layer. | ||
Compared to the 1D uniform model, which predicts a modest near-surface enrichment (normalized peak ∼0.05 at y/H ≈ 0), the pseudo-2D results show a substantially thicker accumulation zone, with normalized averaged concentrations reaching ∼0.10–0.12 in the boundary layer (y/H < 0.1). This enhanced buildup originates from spatial mismatches in reaction rates: regions of high Pt density consume H2O2 rapidly, while adjacent MXene-dominated areas sustain slower kinetics, leading to lateral redistribution and delayed net removal.
The broader enriched region reflects impeded outward diffusion, as lateral fluxes partially trap H2O2 within the diffusion layer. This phenomenon amplifies the effective residence time of the intermediate, influencing the observed colorimetric signal intensity and response dynamics. Consequently, heterogeneity not only alters intermediate distribution but also contributes to deviations in apparent reaction order, providing a mechanistic basis for the superior predictive capability of the pseudo-2D approach in capturing non-ideal behaviors of nanocomposite-based sensing platforms.
The pseudo-2D framework predicts a prolonged response, with the time to 90% steady-state extending to ∼80 s. This delay arises from lateral transport constraints imposed by Pt heterogeneity: initial H2O2 generation is localized in high-activity zones, necessitating cross-diffusion to equilibrate with slower-consuming regions. The resulting transient imbalance sustains elevated intermediate levels longer near low-Pt areas, retarding net outward flux.
Such delayed kinetics influence colorimetric response times and signal buildup rates, contributing to observed experimental incubation requirements (>40 min for optimal absorbance). This highlights how surface non-uniformity not only alters steady-state distributions but also introduces temporal lags, underscoring the enhanced realism of the pseudo-2D model in replicating dynamic sensor behavior.
![]() | ||
| Fig. 6 Effective surface glucose concentration as a function of bulk concentration in uniform 1D and heterogeneous pseudo-2D models. | ||
Pseudo-2D simulations yield systematically lower Ceffs, decreasing to ∼0.11 Cbulk at equivalent bulk levels. This reduction reflects intensified local depletion around Pt-rich domains, where elevated reaction rates lower immediate subsurface concentrations. Adjacent MXene regions, with diminished activity, cannot fully compensate via lateral supply, resulting in a globally reduced average.
The diminished Ceffs directly impairs substrate occupancy of active sites, manifesting as apparent kinetic penalties. This effect is most significant in the physiological range (1–10 mM), contributing to the observed contraction of the effective linear dynamic range and elevated LOD in heterogeneous nanozyme platforms compared to idealized uniform predictions.
![]() | (19) |
This uses averaged surface concentrations and fluxes from pseudo-2D simulations. For the uniform 1D model, fitting yields Keffm≈ 3.0 mM and Veffmax≈ 100 (normalized units), closely approximating intrinsic values due to negligible lateral effects (Table 4).
| Model | Keffm (mM) | Veffmax (relative) | Reff at saturation (relative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1D uniform | 2.5 | 1 | 1 |
| Pseudo-2D heterogeneous | 4.8 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
In contrast, the pseudo-2D case results in Veffm ≈ 5.0 mM (67% increase) and Veffmax≈ 80 (20% decrease). The elevated Keffm reflects reduced substrate affinity arising from lower average surface concentrations in depleted hot-spot vicinities, while diminished Veffmax stems from underutilization of sites in low-activity regions.
These shifts demonstrate how heterogeneity imposes transport-mediated kinetic penalties, yielding apparent parameters that deviate substantially from intrinsic Pt nanozyme kinetics. Such extraction enables quantitative reconciliation with experimental calibration curves, where observed broader but attenuated responses align with the pseudo-2D predictions.
It is important to emphasize that the effective kinetic parameters extracted from the pseudo-2D simulations, namely Keffm and-Veffmax, are not intrinsic properties of the Pt nanozyme. Rather, they are emergent, system-level descriptors that arise from the coupled interplay between intrinsic surface reaction kinetics, mass transport limitations, and lateral heterogeneity in active site distribution. In the present framework, Michaelis–Menten kinetics is applied locally at the surface to describe intrinsic nanozyme reactivity, whereas the effective parameters are obtained by fitting spatially averaged surface fluxes to a Michaelis–Menten form. As such, Keffm and Veffmax incorporate transport-induced substrate depletion, lateral diffusion bottlenecks, and incomplete utilization of active sites. Their values therefore depend not only on intrinsic kinetic constants, but also on diffusion layer thickness, catalyst dispersion, and surface heterogeneity.
This distinction between intrinsic and effective kinetic parameters has important implications for the interpretation of experimental biosensor data. Apparent Michaelis–Menten parameters extracted from macroscopic calibration curves should not be interpreted as fundamental nanozyme constants, but rather as phenomenological descriptors of the entire sensing system under specific transport and geometric conditions. Consequently, variations in experimental Km and Vmax values across different nanozyme architectures or electrode configurations may primarily reflect changes in mass transport resistance and catalyst dispersion rather than genuine differences in intrinsic catalytic activity. The pseudo-2D framework explicitly rationalizes this behavior by linking shifts in apparent kinetics to transport-modified surface availability, providing a mechanistic bridge between intrinsic nanozyme reactivity and experimentally observed sensor-level performance (Table 5).
| Parameter type | Definition | Governing factors | Experimental meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intrinsic Km, Vmax | Local surface reaction constants | Nanozyme chemistry, active site energetics | Material property |
| Effective Keffm, Veffmax | Flux-fitted apparent parameters | Transport, heterogeneity, geometry | System-level descriptor |
Although full electrochemical calibration datasets were not available for point-by-point numerical fitting, the pseudo-2D model enables quantitative extraction of effective kinetic parameters (Km,el and Vmax,el) directly from simulated flux-concentration relationships. These parameters fall within the experimentally reported ranges for Ti3C2Tx@Pt-based non-enzymatic glucose sensors, thereby providing a quantitative consistency check beyond qualitative trend comparison. Accordingly, the electrochemical validation is quantitative at the level of apparent kinetic descriptors rather than direct current matching, which is constrained by the limited availability of raw experimental current–time data.
In contrast, the pseudo-2D model, incorporating realistic Pt clustering, yields Keffm≈ 5.0 mM (67% higher) and Veffmax ≈ 80 (20% lower). This systematic degradation arises from reduced effective substrate availability and incomplete site utilization across the composite surface, driven by localized depletion and lateral diffusion constraints.
The 1D model consistently overestimates catalytic performance, particularly in the mid-to-high concentration regime (5–10 mM), where heterogeneity-induced limitations become dominant. Such overprediction leads to underestimation of transport penalties, resulting in inaccurate forecasts of linear range contraction and sensitivity loss observed experimentally.
The pseudo-2D framework thus provides superior alignment with measured calibration data for Ti3C2Tx@Pt systems, demonstrating that neglecting surface heterogeneity yields overly optimistic kinetic interpretations. This comparison validates the necessity of multidimensional modeling for nanocomposite sensors, where apparent behavior deviates markedly from intrinsic capabilities due to microstructural influences.
| Parameter | Variation (%) | Keffm (mM) | LOD (µM) | Linear range upper (mM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ΓPt,mean | −50 | 5.76 | 1.92 | 7.5 |
| 0 | 4.8 | 1.37 | 10 | |
| 50 | 4.32 | 1.1 | 12.5 | |
| AΓ | −100 | 2.5 | 0.96 | 15 |
| 0 | 4.8 | 1.37 | 10 | |
| 50 | 6.24 | 1.78 | 7.5 | |
| Km | −50 | 3.6 | 1.03 | 12.5 |
| 0 | 4.8 | 1.37 | 10 | |
| 50 | 6 | 1.71 | 8 | |
| Vmax | −50 | 4.8 | 1.92 | 7.5 |
| 0 | 4.8 | 1.37 | 10 | |
| 50 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 12.5 | |
| DGlu | −50 | 5.76 | 1.78 | 8 |
| 0 | 4.8 | 1.37 | 10 | |
| 50 | 4.32 | 1.23 | 12 |
Although real Pt nanoparticle distributions are stochastic rather than periodic, the conclusions drawn from the pseudo-2D model are governed primarily by the amplitude and length scale of surface heterogeneity, rather than the specific functional form of the spatial modulation. Qualitatively, alternative heterogeneity descriptions (such as random or patchy distributions with comparable variance and characteristic spacing) would be expected to produce similar or stronger transport penalties, as sharper local gradients generally enhance hotspot depletion and lateral flux redistribution.
Sensitivity analysis confirms that the dominant shifts in effective diffusion resistance and apparent kinetic parameters scale with the degree of heterogeneity (i.e., variance in ΓPt), whereas the precise shape of the modulation plays a secondary role. Consequently, the sinusoidal representation may be regarded as a conservative approximation, providing a physically interpretable lower bound for heterogeneity-induced transport limitations in nanozyme-modified electrodes (Table 7).
| Heterogeneity type | Variance in ΓPt | Expected local gradients | Relative transport penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uniform (1D) | 0 | None | Minimal |
| Sinusoidal (this work) | Moderate | Smooth | Moderate |
| Random distribution | Moderate-high | Irregular | Moderate-high |
| Patchy/clustered | High | Sharp hotspots | High |
Beyond quantitative agreement, this work provides mechanistic insight into how nanoscale catalyst dispersion governs macroscopic sensor performance. The findings reveal that nanoparticle clustering, while locally enhancing catalytic activity, imposes global transport penalties that diminish overall sensitivity and prematurely saturate sensor responses. These insights highlight the critical importance of optimizing nanozyme uniformity, rather than merely increasing active site density, to improve detection limits, linear range, and response dynamics. More broadly, the presented pseudo-2D modeling strategy offers a computationally efficient yet physically rigorous tool for bridging intrinsic nanozyme kinetics with experimentally observed behavior in heterogeneous biosensing interfaces. This framework is readily extendable to other nanozyme architectures and sensing modalities, providing a predictive basis for rational design and performance optimization of next-generation biosensors.
The transport-reaction coupling, pseudo-2D formulation, and treatment of lateral surface heterogeneity are generic features of the proposed framework and can be transferred to other nanozyme or heterogeneous catalytic systems. In contrast, system-specific elements such as intrinsic reaction kinetics, reactive intermediates, diffusion coefficients, and active site density distributions require re-parameterization or, if necessary, reformulation to reflect the chemistry of the target system.
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