Thiol-ene click synthesis of β-cyclodextrin-functionalized covalent organic framework-based magnetic nanocomposites (Fe3O4@COF@β-CD) for solid-phase extraction and determination of estrogens and estrogen mimics

Estrogens and estrogen mimics have been proved to be possible carcinogenic risks to human health and have drawn extensive attention in the fields of food safety. In this work, a thiol-ene click strategy was proposed for synthesis of a novel p-cyclodextrin-functionalized covalent organic framework-based magnetic nanocomposites (Fe3O4@COF@beta-CD) and then employed as adsorbents for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of estrogens and estrogen mimics. The Fe3O4@COF@beta-CD possess the merits of superparamagnetism, large surface area, and excellent adsorption performance to estrogens and estrogen mimics. By combining with high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD), the developed method gave a good linearity (R-2 >= 0.9989) and low limits of detection (0.9-3.4 mu g kg(-1)) under the optimized conditions. The applicability of the presented MSPE-HPLC-FLD method was demonstrated by real milk and meat samples analysis, with the satisfactory recoveries ranging from 89.0 to 105.4% and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) <= 5.7%.

Automated summary

A novel magnetic nanocomposite was developed for adsorption of estrogens and estrogen mimics, with good linearity and low detection limits in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). The method demonstrated good applicability and accuracy through analysis of real samples.