Substitution therapy enzymes immobilized on nutritive fibers

Abstract

Disturbances induced by substitution therapy of chronic pancreatic diseases are eliminated with the aid of various en- zyme preparations, primarily digestive hydrolases. Most promising of these are drugs containing a combination of en- zymes capable of hydrolyzing proteins, fats, and carbohy- drates. However, the efficiency of these drugs is frequently reduced by deactivation of the substitution therapy enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract, in particular, under the action of acidic gastric medium and temperature factors [1]. A possible way to remove this disadvantage of the drugs for substitution therapy is provided by enzymes immobilized on an appropriate carrier. In this connection, it would be of interest to consider the possibility to use nutritive fibers (NFs)-a combination of natural polymers with the main components including lig- nins, pectins, hemicellulose, and cellulose [2]. This choice is additionally justified by the fact that the NF proper are known to serve as regulators of metabolic processes and digestive functions in the organism. In this work we have examined the possibility to immobi- lize alkaline protease, 13-galactosidase, oraze, and solizym on a NF cartier. Our purpose was to obtain the immobilized form of not only individual enzymes, but of their combina- tion as well, and to study the functioning of NF-immobilized enzymes. EXPERIMENTAL PART The enzymatic activity was studied in duodenum of rats narcotized with urethane (1 g/kg). After opening the ab- dominal cavity, a part of the intestine was ligated and a sub- strate mixture (2 ml) with a suspension of immobilized en- zymes (0.5 ml) was cannulated. In the reference sample, the enzyme was replaced by an enzyme substance solution. All drug preparations were introduced at a dose of 25 mg/kg.