Coupling of Solid-Phase
Microextraction Directly to
Mass Spectrometry via an Improved Microfluidic Open Interface to Facilitate
High-Throughput Determinations
posted on 2023-04-02, 13:03authored byEmir Nazdrajić, Khaled Murtada, Daniel A. Rickert, Janusz Pawliszyn
Mass spectrometry analysis can be performed by introducing
samples
directly to mass spectrometry, allowing the increase of the analysis
throughput; however, some disadvantages of direct-to-mass spectrometry
analysis include susceptibility to matrix effects and risk of instrument
contamination from inadequate sample preparation. Solid-phase microextraction
is one of the most suitable sample preparation methods for direct-to-mass
spectrometry analysis, as it offers matrix-compatible coatings which
ensure analyte enrichment with minimal or no interference from matrix.
One of the ways solid-phase microextraction can be coupled directly
to mass spectrometry is via a microfluidic open interface. This manuscript
reports improvements made to the initial microfluidic open interface
design, where the system components have been simplified to mostly
commercially available materials. In addition, the analysis of samples
has been automated by implementing software that fully controls the
analysis workflow, where the washing procedure is optimized to completely
reduce the carryover. Herein, the extraction and desorption time profiles
from thin and thick SPME devices was studied where the overall workflow
consisted of high-throughput sample preparation of 1.3 min per 96
samples and <1 min per sample instrumental analysis.