Dynamic-Electromembrane Extraction: A Technical Development for the Extraction of Neuropeptides

In this work, a dynamic-electromembrane extraction (d-EME) device was developed for the extraction of neuropeptides. On the basis of a thin polypropylene hollow fiber (50 mu m of wall-thickness and 280 mu m i.d.), this setup allowed for a continual renewal of the acceptor, compartment. Because of the reduced size of the device, high preconcentration factors were obtained (up to 50-fold). The extraction remained constant regardless of the extraction time (from 15 to 45 min); accordingly, this new setup minimized the effect of electrolysis on extraction performance while enabling high extraction yield (up to 72%) for most lipophilic neuropeptides.