Optimization of supported liquid extraction for the analysis of amphetamines in hair
By Biotage
Hair is a fundamental matrix for drug analysis showing historical use due to increased compound stability over prolonged periods of time compared to other more traditional matrices. A single exposure to a drug can be detected within hair, allowing potential doping to be detected. Usually, analytes are extensively metabolized once they enter the body so it can be difficult to establish the parent compound. Within hair, parent drugs are usually present in high concentrations, allowing easy identification, making it a complementary technique to traditional blood and urine analysis.
A method that simultaneously pulverizes and extracts target analytes from hair matrix is called micro pulverised extraction (MPE). Compared to other extraction methods, MPE has been used to reduce the sample preparation time for hair analysis significantly. Although this technique remains relatively unknown, it is a significant alternative to other more time consuming methods for pulverization and extraction.
Clean-up is an important part of sample preparation for hair analysis. An alternative to traditional LLE is supported liquid extraction (SLE) that is based on the same principles as LLE – the use of two immiscible solvents to exchange analytes. SLE offers several advantages over LLE; there is no emulsion formation, it produces a more efficient exchange and is in a cartridge form that is quick and simple to use. The SLE process involves only three stages – load, wait, elute.
Literature number: P161
