On Damped Wave Diffusion of Oxygen in Pancreatic Islets: Parabolic and Hyperbolic Models

Damped wave diffusion effects during oxygen transport in islets of Langerhans is studied. Simultaneous reaction and diffusion models were developed. The asymptotic limits of first and zeroth order in Michaelis and Menten kinetics was used in the study. Parabolic Fick diffusion and hyperbolic damped wave diffusion were studied separately. Method of relativistic transformation was used in order to obtain the solution for the hyperbolic model. Model solutions was used to obtain mass inertial times. Convective boundary condition was used. Sharma number (mass) may be used in evaluating the importance of the damped wave diffusion process in relation to other processes such as convection, Fick steady diffusion in the given application. Four regimes can be identified in the solution of hyperbolic damped wave diffusion model. These are: 1) Zero Transfer Inertial Regime, 0 inertia 0     ; 2) Rising Regime during times greater than inertial regime and less than at the wave front, Xp > ; 3) at Wave front ,  = Xp; 4) Falling Regime in open Interval, of times greater than at the wave front,  > Xp. Method of superposition of steady state concentration and transient concentration used in both solutions of parabolic and hyperbolic models. Expression for steady state concentration developed. Closed form analytic model solutions developed in asymptotic limits of Michaelis and Menten kinetic at zeroth order and first order. Expression for Penetration Length Derived-Hypoxia Explained. Expression for Inertial Lag Time Derived. Solution was obtained by the method of separation of variables for transient for parabolic model and by the method of relativistic transformation for hyperbolic models. The concentration profile was expressed as a sum of steadty state and transient parts.