Production,purification and characterisation of genetically derived scFv and bifunctional antibody fragments capable of detecting illicit drug residues

We have generated a single chain antigen binding protein (scFv) recognising morphine. Variable regions of heavy (V(H)) and light (V(L)) chain antibody genes isolated from a murine immune repertoire were connected via a glycine-serine linker and cloned into the expression vector pAK 400. The scFv was produced in Escherichia coli JM83 yielding a functional protein of approximately M(r) 30000. Immunoaffinity chromatography using M3G-BSA-Sepharose column proved most effective for scFv purification. Purity was monitored by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and the scFv characterised using ELISA and BIAcore. The scFv was capable of specifically binding free morphine in solution and was applicable to real sample analysis in saliva. In order to express a bivalent "minibody" the scFv gene was recloned into a vector containing a gene encoding a helix for dimerisation. The scFv was expressed as a protein of M(r) 75000 and retained its antibody binding capabilities. Cloning the scFv gene into a vector containing the bacterial alkaline phosphatase gene produced a bifunctional molecule, which retained the binding activity of the parental scFv along with the enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase.     

Detection of weakly interacting anti-carbohydrate scFv phages using surface plasmon resonance

Methods to characterise and confirm specificity of scFv displayed on phages are important during panning procedures, especially when selecting for antibody fragments with weak affinities in the millimole to micromole range. In this report the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor was used to study and verify specificity of phages displaying weak anti-carbohydrate scFvs. The variable immunoglobulin light (VL) and heavy (VH) chain genes of the weak monoclonal antibody 39.5 were amplified and cloned into a phagemid and displayed as a scFv-pIII fusion protein on filamentous phage. This monoclonal antibody recognises with weak affinity the structural sequence Glcalpha1-4Glc present in a variety of carbohydrate molecules. Injection of the 39.5 phages over a biosensor chip immobilised with a (Glc)4-BSA conjugate confirmed selective binding of the scFv to its antigen. Inhibition studies verified the specificity. These results clearly show that SPR technology can be used to evaluate in terms of binding and specificity weakly interacting scFv displayed on the phage surface.     

Fine mapping of the antigen–antibody interaction of scFv215, a recombinant antibody inhibiting RNA polymerase II from Drosophila melanogaster

A bacterially expressed single chain antibody (scFv215) directed against the largest subunit of drosophila RNA polymerase II was analysed. Structure and function of the antigen binding site in scFv215 were probed by chain shuffling and by site‐specific mutagenesis. The entire variable region of either the heavy or light chain was replaced by an unrelated heavy or light chain. Both replacements resulted in a total loss of binding activity suggesting that the antigen binding site is contributed by both chains. The functional contributions of each complementarity determining region (CDR) were investigated by site specific mutagenesis of each CDR separately. Mutations in two of the CDRs, CDR1 of light chain and CDR2 of heavy chain, reduced the binding activity significantly. Each of the amino acids in these two CDRs was replaced individually by alanine (alanine walking). Seven amino acid substitutions in the two CDRs were found to reduce the binding activity by more than 50%. The data support a computer model of scFv215 which fits an epitope model based on a mutational analysis of the epitope suggesting an alpha‐helical structure for the main contact area. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人源抗ICAM-1单链抗体的制备及其生物学活性鉴定

利用噬菌体展示技术筛选特异性人源抗ICAM-1单链抗体（Anti-human ICAM-1 scFv）并进行生物学活性鉴定。应用Tomlinson I+J噬菌体抗体库,以P1抗原肽为包被抗原,经过4轮“吸附-洗脱-扩增”进行亲和富集筛选。以PCR反应、ELISA抗原交叉反应和Dot blotting实验进行阳性克隆的鉴定。scFv经原核表达和分离纯化后,以Western blotting实验、竞争ELISA实验和细胞黏附抑制实验对其生物学活性进行初步鉴定。Tomlinson I+J噬菌体抗体库经4轮亲和富集筛选,利用ELISA方法成功筛出4株阳性克隆。通过PCR鉴定反应、ELISA抗原交叉反应和Dot blotting实验,最终获得了1株既能与P1抗原肽特异结合又能与人ICAM-1抗原特异结合的阳性克隆J-A1。对scFv进行原核表达和亲和层析后获得了高纯度的目的蛋白。竞争ELISA实验和细胞黏附抑制实验证实纯化的scFv具有良好的亲和活性和抗细胞黏附活性。文中成功利用噬菌体展示技术筛选到特异性人源抗ICAM-1 scFv,为进一步探索该抗体在炎症相关性疾病治疗中的应用奠定了基础。     

High-density immobilization of an antibody fragment to a carboxymethylated dextran-linked biosensor surface

There are numerous chemical methods published that enable protein coupling to carboxymethyl (CM) dextran. Here we have taken traditional amine coupling using N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and coupled an antibody fragment (scFv) to CM dextran at a very high density. Using an upgraded BIAlite from Biacore AB, more than 7000 RU of scFv was coupled to a CM dextran biosensor chip. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was performed on CM dextran biosensor chips following amine coupling of 30 nm gold anti-IgG particles. This showed that amine coupling was uniform across the biosensor chip surface. Calculations show that 7620 RU of an scFv coupled to such a surface results in a mean distance between binding sites of 8.8 nm. This equates to a packing volume of approximately 20% of the available space occupied by the antibody fragment. Comparisons made with densities of covalently coupled IgG show that a greater number of antibody fragment molecules can be coupled per unit area. This is most likely due to the smaller size of an antibody fragment (scFv), which has a volume of less than 20% of an IgG molecule. The significance of these findings is discussed.     

Effects of humanization by variable domain resurfacing on the antiviral activity of a single-chain antibody against respiratory syncytial virus.

HNK20 is a mouse monoclonal IgA that binds to the F glycoprotein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and neutralizes the virus, both in vitro and in vivo. The single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) derived from HNK20 is equally active and has allowed us to assess rapidly the effect of mutations on affinity and antiviral activity. Humanization by variable domain resurfacing requires that surface residues not normally found in a human Fv be mutated to the expected human amino acid, thereby eliminating potentially immunogenic sites. We describe the construction and characterization of two humanized scFvs, hu7 and hu10, bearing 7 and 10 mutations, respectively. Both molecules show unaltered binding affinities to the RSV antigen (purified F protein) as determined by ELISA and surface plasmon resonance measurements of binding kinetics (Ka approximately 1x10(9) M-1). A competition ELISA using captured whole virus confirmed that the binding affinities of the parental scFv and also of hu7 and hu10 scFvs were identical. However, when compared with the original scFv, hu10 scFv was shown to have significantly decreased antiviral activity both in vitro and in a mouse model. Our observations suggest that binding of the scFv to the viral antigen is not sufficient for neutralization. We speculate that neutralization may involve the inhibition or induction of conformational changes in the bound antigen, thereby interfering with the F protein-mediated fusion of virus and cell membranes in the initial steps of infection.     

Production and in vitro refolding of a single-chain antibody specific for human plasma apolipoprotein A-I

An active form of single-chain antibody (scFv) has been produced in Escherichia coli for murine monoclonal antibody MabA34 (gamma 1, kappa), which is specific for human plasma apolipoprotein (apo) A-I. The complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding the variable regions of heavy chain (VH) and light chain (VL) were connected by a (Gly4Ser)3 linker using an assembly polymerase chain reaction. The construct (VL-linker-VH) was placed under the control of highly efficient T7 promoter system. The cloned scFv was expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. After purification from E. coli lysate using sonication and low speed centrifugation, the inclusion body was solubilized and denatured in the presence of 8 M urea, renatured by dialysis, and scFv was finally purified using antigen-affinity chromatography. The purity and activity of purified scFv were confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The affinity constant was determined by a biosensor method using the BIAcore system. The results showed that the yield of correctly refolded scFv was more than 20 mg l-1 of E. coli flask culture and the specific binding activity to apo A-I was retained with an affinity constant of 6.74 x 10(-8) M (Kd). A notable thing is that guanidine-HCl as a denaturant induced more multimeric formation in the subsequent refolding procedure for the scFv of MabA34 and thus, it was not suitable as urea was. This fact is uncommon for what is generally known for the denaturation and refolding of recombinant antibodies.     

Functional expression of recombinant anti-BNP scFv in methylotrophic yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis> and application as a recognition molecule in electrochemical sensors

Recent studies have revealed the potential of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) as a good prognostic marker for patients with heart failure. Antibodies against BNP are expected to be usefully employed in the diagnosis of heart failures. We established a more efficient method to produce functional anti-BNP, single chain variable fragment (scFv) using a eukaryotic expression system of Pichia pastoris. Although analysis of the N-terminal (NT) sequence of the expressed anti-BNP scFv indicated that the two Ste13 sites of the secreted anti-BNP scFv were not cleaved, the specificity of anti-BNP scFv was not affected significantly. The binding activity of anti-BNP scFv against other antigens, against four other antigens, NT probrain peptide (NT-pro BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and human serum albumin (HSA), was only one thousandth that of the original BNP antigen, which clearly demonstrated the specific binding of recombinant scFv toward BNP. The anti-BNP, scFv-based, electrochemical immunoassay exhibited excellent analytical performance with a detection limit of 1 fg/ml and a wide linear detection range from 1 to 10,000 fg/ml. The optimum culture conditions to obtain the maximum concentration of recombinant scFv were a pH range of 5.0–7.0 and an incubation temperature of 20°C. This anti-BNP scFv expressed in P. pastoris has the potential for promising applications in the diagnosis of heart failure.     

Kinetic analysis of a monoclonal therapeutic antibody and its single-chain homolog by surface plasmon resonance

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody fragments have become an emerging class of therapeutics since 1986. Their versatility enables them to be engineered for optimal efficiency and decreased immunogenicity, and the path to market has been set by recent regulatory approvals. One of the initial criteria for success of any protein or antibody therapeutic is to understand its binding characteristics to the target antigen. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been widely used and is an important tool for ligand-antigen binding characterization. In this work, the binding kinetics of a recombinant mAb and its single-chain antibody homolog, single-chain variable fragment (scFv), was analyzed by SPR. These two proteins target the same antigen. The binding kinetics of the mAb (bivalent antibody) and scFv (monovalent scFv) for this antigen was analyzed along with an assessment of the thermodynamics of the binding interactions. Alternative binding configurations were investigated to evaluate potential experimental bias because theoretically experimental binding configuration should have no impact on binding kinetics. Self-association binding kinetics in the proteins’ respective formulation solutions and antigen epitope mapping were also evaluated. Functional characterization of monoclonal and single-chain antibodies has become just as important as structural characterization in the biotechnology field.     

Effects of PEGylated scFv antibodies against Plasmodium vivax duffy binding protein on the biological activity and stability in vitro

Duffy binding protein (DBP) plays a critical role in Plasmodium vivax invasion of human red blood cells. We previously reported a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) that was specific to P. vivax DBP (PvDBP). However, the stabilization and the half-life of scFvs have not been studied. Here, we investigated the effect of PEGylated scFvs on their biological activity and stability in vitro. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that three clones (SFDBII-12, -58, and -92) were formed as dimers (about 70 kDa) with PEGylation. Clone SFDBII-58 gave the highest yield of PEGylated scFv. Binding analysis using BIAcore between DBP and scFv showed that both SFDBII-12 and -58 were decreased approximately by two folds at the level of binding affinity to DBP after PEGylation. However, the SFDBII-92 clone still showed a relatively high level of binding affinity (KD=1.02 x 10(-7) M). Binding inhibition assay showed that PEGylated scFv was still able to competitively bind the PvDBP and play a critical role in inhibiting the interactions between PvDBP protein expressed on the surface of Cos-7 cells and Duffy receptor on the surface of erythrocytes. When both scFvs and their PEGylated counterparts were exposed to trypsin, scFv was completely degraded only after 24 h, whereas 35% of PEGylated scFvs remained intact, maintaining their stability against the proteolytic attack of trypsin until 72 h. Taken together, these results suggest that the PEGylated scFvs retain their stability against proteolytic enzymes in vivo, with no significant loss in their binding affinity to target antigen, DBP.     

Combining phage display and screening of cDNA expression libraries: a new approach for identifying the target antigen of an scFv preselected by phage display

A potential method for identifying new tumor-specific antibody structures as well as tumor-associated antigens is by selecting scFv phage libraries on tumor cells. This phage display technique involves multiple rounds of phage binding to target cells, washing to remove non-specific phage and elution to retrieve specific binding phage. Although the binding properties of an isolated tumor-specific scFv can be evaluated by ELISA, FACS and immunohistochemistry, it still remains a challenge to define the corresponding antigen. Here, we provide evidence that the target antigen of a given scFv displayed on phages can be detected in an immobilized lambda phage cDNA expression library containing thousands of irrelevant clones. The library contained CD30-negative breast-cancer specific cDNA as well as human CD30 receptor cDNA. The interaction of anti-CD30 scFv phages and their target antigen after blotting onto nitrocellulose filters was documented under defined conditions. Screening of different ratios between CD30 receptor and breast cancer specific clones (1:1 and 1:200) revealed that the CD30 antigen could be detected by anti-CD30 scFv phages using at least 5x10(12) plaque forming units of filamentous phages per blot. These investigations demonstrate that it is possible to detect the target antigen of a preselected scFv displayed on filamentous phages in lambda phage cDNA expression libraries.     

Production of a soluble single-chain variable fragment antibody against okadaic acid and exploration of its specific binding

Okadaic acid is a lipophilic marine algal toxin commonly responsible for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). Outbreaks of DSP have been increasing and are of worldwide public health concern; therefore, there is a growing demand for more rapid, reliable, and economical analytical methods for the detection of this toxin. In this study, anti-okadaic acid single-chain variable fragment (scFv) genes were prepared by cloning heavy and light chain genes from hybridoma cells, followed by fusion of the chains via a linker peptide. An scFv–pLIP6/GN recombinant plasmid was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli for expression, and the target scFv was identified with IC–CLEIA (chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay). The IC₁₅ was 0.012 ± 0.02 μg/L, and the IC₅₀ was 0.25 ± 0.03 μg/L. The three-dimensional structure of the scFv was simulated with computer modeling, and okadaic acid was docked to the scFv model to obtain a putative structure of the binding complex. Two predicted critical amino acids, Ser32 and Thr187, were then mutated to verify this theoretical model. Both mutants exhibited significant loss of binding activity. These results help us to understand this specific scFv–antigen binding mechanism and provide guidance for affinity maturation of the antibody in vitro. The high-affinity scFv developed here also has potential for okadaic acid toxin detection.     

Inhibition of Candida albicans adhesion by recombinant human antibody single-chain variable fragment specific for Als3p

The Candida albicans adhesin, Als3p, was identified as a potential cognate antigen for previously described human antibody fragments [single-chain variable fragment (scFv)] based on similarity of the binding pattern of the scFv to the distribution of this protein on the hyphal surface. Although all scFv bound avidly to wild type, scFv3 showed no detectable binding via immunofluorescence assay to strain 1843, containing a homozygous deletion of ALS3. Binding to the ALS3 reintegrant strain, 2322, was preserved, and scFv3 also bound to Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing ALS3. Other scFv retained binding to 1843, but with a markedly altered pattern. To determine if scFv3 could interfere with Als3p function, adhesion assays were conducted using human epithelial or endothelial cells as target. Treatment of wild-type C. albicans with scFv3 reduced adhesion of the fungus to both cell types to levels comparable to the als3Delta/als3Delta mutant. These experiments confirm that phage display is a viable method to isolate human scFv specific to an antigen implicated in C. albicans virulence, and that the scFv interfere with adhesion to human cells. The altered pattern of immunostaining with other scFv that retain binding to the als3Delta/als3Delta mutant suggest that Als3p may also have a role in structural organization of the C. albicans cell surface.     

抗TNF-α单链抗体噬菌体展示文库的建立和鉴定

应用噬菌体展示技术构建抗肿瘤坏死因子α(tumornecrosis factor α,TNF-α)单链抗体(single chain Fv,scFv)文库,从中筛选抗TNF-αscFv并进行鉴定.利用重组人TNF-α(rhTNF-α)免疫小鼠,分别扩增小鼠VH和VL基因,经重叠延伸反应将VH和VL基因拼接成scFv基因,以SfiⅠ/NotⅠ位点定向插入pCANTAB 5E噬菌粒载体,转化E.coli TG1,构建了库容为4.6×108的抗TNF-α单链抗体库.对抗体库进行3轮富集筛选后,ELISA检测阳性克隆的抗原特异性,取1株阳性克隆进行测序分析.结果表明,抗TNF-αscFv基因序列长774bp,编码258个氨基酸.将此阳性克隆转化E.coliHB2151,IPTG诱导可溶性scFv的表达,经SDS-PAGE和Western印迹分析,scFv的分子量约为28kD.经亲和纯化后的scFv可与rhTNF-α结合,并可中和由rhTNF-α引起的L929细胞毒性.本文利用噬菌体抗体库筛选到了高亲和力的抗TNF-αscFv,为研制临床免疫治疗的新型抗体奠定了实验基础.     

An optimized fermentation process for high-level production of a single-chain Fv antibody fragment in Pichia pastoris

The expression of a humanized single-chain variable domain fragment antibody (A33scFv) was optimized for Pichia pastoris with yields exceeding 4 g L(-1). A33scFv recognizes a cell surface glycoprotein (designated A33) expressed in colon cancer that serves as a target antigen for immunotherapy of colon cancer. P. pastoris with a MutS phenotype was selected to express A33scFv, which was cloned under regulation of the methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter. We report the optimization of A33scFv production by examining methanol concentrations using fermentation technology with an on-line methanol control in fed-batch fermentation of P. pastoris. In addition, we examined the effect of pH on A33scFv production and biomass accumulation during the methanol induction phase. A33scFv production was found to increase with higher methanol concentrations, reaching 4.3 g L(-1) after 72 h induction with 0.5% (v/v) methanol. Protein production was also greatly affected by pH, resulting in higher yields (e.g., 4.88 g L(-1)) at lower pH values. Biomass accumulation did not seem to vary when cells were induced at different pH values, but was greatly affected by lower concentration of methanol. Purification of A33scFv from clarified medium was done using a two-step chromatographic procedure using anion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, resulting in 25% recovery and >90% purity. Pure A33scFv was tested for functionality using surface plasmon resonance and showed activity against immobilized A33 antigen. Our results demonstrate that functional A33scFv can be produced in sufficient quantities using P. pastoris for use in further functionality studies and diagnostic applications.     

Assessment of peanut allergen Ara h1 in processed foods using a SWCNTs-based nanobiosensor

The goals of this research were to develop a rapid single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based biosensor and to employ it to commercial food products for Ara h1 detection. The SWCNT-based biosensor was fabricated with SWCNTs immobilized with antibody (pAb) through hybridization of 1-pyrenebutanoic acid succinimidyl ester (1-PBASE) as a linker. The resistance difference (ΔR) was calculated by measuring linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) using a potentiostat. Resistance values increased as the concentration of Ara h1 increased over the range of 1 to 10⁵ ng/L. The specific binding of anti-Ara h1 pAb to antigen including Ara h1 was confirmed by both indirect ELISA kit and biosensor assay. The biosensor was exposed to extracts prepared from commercial processed food containing peanuts, or no peanuts, and could successfully distinguish the peanut containing foods. In addition, the application of present biosensor approach documented the precise detection of Ara h1 concentrations in commercially available peanut containing foods.     

Expression and purification of recombinant immunotoxin--a fusion protein stabilizes a single-chain Fv (scFv) in denaturing condition

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is expressed at greatly increased levels in nearly all human colorectal carcinomas. Anti-CEA antibodies have been proved to be useful for targeting several cancer types known to express CEA. A recombinant immunotoxin was constructed, in which the cell-binding domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) was replaced with the single-chain Fv (scFv) of anti-CEA monoclonal antibody for targeting to colorectal carcinomas. This single-chain immunotoxin was expressed in E. coli and purified under denaturing condition of 6M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl). It was found that the immunotoxin maintains a binding activity in denaturing condition of 6M GuHCl and the fused PE contributes to the stability of immunotoxin in such condition. Dialysis against PBS buffer after purification under 6M GuHCl keeps the binding activity of immunotoxin.     

High cytoplasmic expression in E. coli, purification, and in vitro refolding of a single chain Fv antibody fragment against the hepatitis B surface antigen.

A single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment against the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was expressed in Escherichia coli in the form of two independent fusion proteins, with either 60 ('long') or 27 ('short') amino acid N-terminal encoding sequences related to human interleukin-2. Both fusion proteins were expressed insolubly and at high levels in the bacterial cytoplasm (approximately 30% of total bacterial protein in MM294 cells at a laboratory scale). When recombinant cells were cultured in 5-1 fermentors, expression and optical density increased 2- and 4-fold, respectively, compared to a previous periplasmic insoluble version of the same anti HBsAg scFv. After extraction and solubilization in urea, the cytoplasmic scFvs were purified using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, followed by DTT treatment, and refolding by dialysis against a basic pH buffer containing EDTA. The refolded scFvs recognized the recombinant HBsAg in ELISA. Results of an ELISA where antigen affinity chromatography repurified scFvs were used as standards, indicated that refolding efficiencies were high: 56.2% for the 'short' fusion scFv, and 50.6% for the 'long' fusion scFv. Corrected final yields of active scFv were 30.3 and 27.3 mg l-1, respectively, for the aforementioned fusion proteins, 5-6 times better than those reported for the periplasmic scFv variant.     

Ligand binding of a ribosome-displayed protein detected in solution at the single molecule level by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Interaction of a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) with its cognate antigen while still attached to the ribosome was studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). In experiments with purified scFv, FCS was capable of resolving the difference in diffusion time between free and antibody-bound labelled antigen. Ribosome-displayed antibody fragments generated by in vitro translation, in which neither the protein nor the mRNA leaves the ribosome owing to the absence of a stop codon and stabilizing buffer conditions, could be shown to specifically bind the antigen. The antibody-antigen interaction was specific, as shown by inhibition or displacement with unlabelled antigen and by control experiments with a non-cognate antibody fragment.     

A single- and a dual-fractal analysis of antigen-antibody binding kinetics for different biosensor applications.

The diffusion-limited binding kinetics of antigen (or antibody) in solution to antibody (or antigen) immobilized on a biosensor surface is analyzed within a fractal framework. The data is adequately described by a single- or a dual-fractal analysis. Initially, the data was modelled by a single-fractal analysis. If an inadequate fit was obtained then a dual-fractal analysis was utilized. The regression analysis provided by Sigmaplot, 1993 (Scientific Graphing Software: User's Manual. Jandel Scientific, San Rafael, CA) was utilized to determine if a single-fractal analysis is sufficient, or a dual-fractal analysis is required. In general, it is of interest to note that the binding rate coefficient and the fractal dimension exhibit changes in the same direction (except for a single example) for the antigen-antibody systems analyzed. Binding rate coefficient expressions as a function of the fractal dimension developed for the antigen-antibody binding systems indicate a high sensitivity of the binding rate coefficient on the fractal dimension when both a single -as well as a dual-fractal analysis is used. For example, for a single-fractal analysis and for the binding of human endothelin-1 (ET-1) antibody in solution to ET-1(15-21) x BSA (bovine serum albumin) immobilised on a surface plasmon resonance surface, the order of dependence of the binding rate coefficient, k on the fractal dimension, Df is 7.0945. Similarly, for a dual-fractal analysis and for the binding of parasite L. donovani diluted pooled sera in solution to fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled anti-human immunoglobulin IgG immobilized on an optical fibre, the order of dependence of k1 and k2 on Df1 and Df2 were 6.8018 and -4.393, respectively. Binding rate coefficient expressions are also developed as a function of the analyte (antigen or antibody) concentration in solution. The binding rate coefficient expressions developed as a function of the fractal dimension(s) are of particular value since they provide a means to better control biosensor performance by linking it to the heterogeneity on the surface, and emphasize in a quantitative sense the importance of the nature of the surface in biosensor performance.