An amperometric lactate sensor based on a NAD+-analog and lactate dehydrogenase coimmobilized on reticulated vitreous carbon

A NAD⁺-analog was coimmobilized with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) to give an amperometric lactate biosensor. Both LDH and the NAD⁺ -analog were bound covalently with carbodiimide to the surface of the porous RVC-material. The electrode was operated in a FIA-arrangement in the presence or absence of a soluble mediator. Meldola Blue. The stability was poor when the electrode was operated at +400 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) in the absence of mediator but improved most significantly in the presence of 5 μM mediator, so that 65% of the original activity remained after 16 days. The amperometric currents were smaller with regeneration by mediator at −100 mV than with direct electrochemical oxidation at +400 mV, indicating that the additional steps slow down the reaction rate. Linear calibration plots were obtained from the detection limit, 1 μM, to 500 μM lactate with 5 μM mediator, reoxidized at −100 mV. The sample throughput was about 60 h⁻¹.