On-Chip Electromembrane Surrounded Solid Phase Microextraction for Determination of Tricyclic Antidepressants from Biological Fluids Using Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as a Fiber Coating

In the present study, on-chip electromembrane surrounded solid phase microextraction (EM-SPME) was employed in the determination of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), including amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, maprotiline, and sertraline, from various biological fluids. In this regard, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-graphene oxide (PEDOT-GO) was electrodeposited on an SPME fiber as a conductive coating, then the fiber played the acceptor-electrode role during the extraction. Thus, the immigration of the analytes under the influence of an electric field and their absorption onto the fiber coating were accomplished simultaneously. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection for the target analytes were acquired in the range of 0.005-0.025 mu g L-1 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The linearity of the method was 0.010-500 mu g L-1 for the imipramine and sertraline, 0.025-500 mu g L-1 for the amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and desipramine, and 1.000-250 mu g L-1 for the maprotiline (R-2 >= 0.9984). Moreover, this method provided suitable precision and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility, with RSDs <= 8.4%. The applicability of the proposed setup was eventually investigated for extraction of the drugs from human bone marrow aspirate, urine, plasma, and well water samples, in which satisfactory relative recoveries, from 93-105%, were obtained.

Automated summary

In this study, on-chip electromembrane surrounded solid phase microextraction (EM-SPME) was used to determine tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in various biological fluids. A conductive coating of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-graphene oxide (PEDOT-GO) was electrodeposited on the SPME fiber, allowing for simultaneous migration and absorption of the analytes under an electric field. The method showed good sensitivity, linearity, and reproducibility, with satisfactory relative recoveries when applied to real samples.