ANALYSIS OF CYCLODEXTRINS USING A CALORIMETRIC BIOSENSOR

A thermostable alpha-amylase catalyzed the exothermal hydrolysis of cy clodextrins. It was immobilized covalently via a spacer on controlled pore glass (CPG-10) or Silicagel. The temperature signal caused by the reaction heat of the cyclodextrin hydrolysis was determined in a one column calorimetric system (enzyme thermistor). It was correlated to t he cyclodextrin concentration and depended on the type of enzyme carri er and kind of cyclodextrin hydrolyzed. The proposed technique offers a direct route to the determination of alpha-amylase activity, and the results are of importance for analysis of cyclodextrin concentration.