Multienzyme membranes for biosensors.

Artificial multienzyme complexes were prepared in which enzymes were covalently bound to polysaccharide structures activated with urea and formaldehyde. Double enzyme complexes of glucose oxidase and catalase, a glucose oxidase and invertase, were prepared by immobilization on to cellulose fabric. Also, catalase was covalently bound to soluble dextran. The resulting multienzyme systems were highly active and stable, making them suitable for use in measuring the concentrations of glucose and saccharose in solutions. The measurements were performed using an amperometric oxygen electrode and multienzyme membranes containing glucose oxidase and catalase for the first substrate, as well as glucose oxidase bound to cheese-cloth and a 'liquid' membrane of dextran-bound catalase. To determine the concentration of saccharose, a multienzyme membrane with bound glucose oxidase and invertase was used in combination with a 'liquid' dextran-catalase. The enzyme electrodes exhibited a measuring range of 0.1-5 mol dm-3 and a response time of 2-3 min. The electrodes may be used for measuring saccharose and glucose concentrations both in fermentation broths and food products.