Thin-Film Solid-Phase Microextraction: Applications in Analytical Toxicology

Abstract

Analysis of complex matrices, such as urine, blood, hair, and oral fluids, consists of a formidable challenge in analytical toxicology. In these matrices, the presence of some components (proteins, salts, metabolites) can hinder the extraction efficiency and lead to issues regarding the accuracy and precision of the methodology. In addition, a number of compounds of interest can also be found at low concentrations. Therefore, a sample preparation step prior to the instrumental analysis is of high importance. Thin-film solid-phase microextraction (TF-SPME) is an environmentally friendly sample preparation technique capable of increasing the sensitivity of the analytical methods. This technique employs a relatively large amount of extraction phase compared to other micro-techniques without requiring long preparation times, which allows the efficient enrichment of the analytes. Another advantage of TF-SPME is the versatility of producing the extraction phases (thin-films), and the possibility of increasing the selectivity and sensitivity of the methods by varying the type and composition of the material. In this chapter, the use of TF-SPME in analytical toxicology is exploited, with fundamentals, configurations, and applications highlighted and discussed.