Amperometric bi-enzyme based biosensor for the detection of lactose--characterization and application.

Based on the glucose oxidase-beta-galactosidase sequence an enzyme probe for the specific determination of lactose has been developed. beta-Galactosidases from different sources have been compared, the sensor containing beta-galactosidase from Curvularia inaequalis has been characterized in respect of optimal pH, enzyme loading, apparent activity and functional stability. The response of the bi-enzyme probe depends linearly on lactose concentration between 0.02 and 3.00 mmol dm-3. The application to different milk and foodstuff samples resulted in good correlations toward enzymatic photometric (y = (0.956x-1.67) mmol dm-3) and infrared detection (y = (1.0772x-0.3909)%). Using a measuring frequency of 100 h-1 the serial imprecision is about 2% for diluted milk, urine, or foodstuff samples.