Concanavalin A layered calcium alginate–starch beads immobilized β galactosidase as a therapeutic agent for lactose intolerant patients

A novel therapeutic agent in the form of β galactosidase immobilized on the surface of concanavalin A layered calcium alginate–starch beads has been developed. Immobilized β galactosidase exhibited significantly very high stability against conditions of digestive system such as pH, salivary amylase, pepsin and trypsin. Soluble and immobilized β galactosidase exhibited same pH-optima. However, the immobilized enzyme retained greater fraction of catalytic activity at higher and lower pH to pH-optima as compared to soluble enzyme. Immobilized enzyme preparation was quite stable under conditions present in mouth, stomach and intestine. Immobilized β galactosidase retained 65% activity even after its sixth repeated use.