Analysis of beta-agonists and beta-blockers in urine using hollow fibre-protected liquid-phase microextraction with in situ derivatization followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

J Chromatogr A. 2009 Jul 10;1216(28):5340-6. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.05.040. Epub 2009 May 21.

Abstract

A method using hollow fibre-protected liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) with in situ derivatization followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was established for the analysis of beta-agonists and beta-blockers in urine. Because it can simultaneously extract and derivatize compounds of interest by methylbenzol and N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) in HF-LPME, the approach overcomes the drawbacks of considerable time-consuming and tedious operation, meanwhile improves enrichment multiple. The optimized conditions were extraction for 20 min at 35 degrees C with 5.0 microL of mixed extraction solvent (methylbenzol/MSTFA=1:1, v/v) with stirring speed of 925 rpm in 5.0 mL sample under pH 12.0 and 14% (w/v) NaCl. The method provided very wide linear ranges (0.25-400 ng mL(-1)) and low detection limits in the range of 0.08-0.10 ng mL(-1) for clenbuterol, metoprolol and propranolol while enrichment factors reached up to 256. The analytes could be determined in spiked urine by the method with high extraction efficacy (93.79-109.04% recoveries) and precision (<9.70% RSD). It has a satisfactory result for metoprolol in practical human urine samples for a single-dose administration of 50 mg after 36 h. The proposed method only needs few microliters of organic solvent and derivatizing agent; the operation is simple, convenient and rapid for the trace analysis of beta-agonists and beta-blockers in biological fluids; it can be readily generalized for high sample throughput. So, it is hopeful that the study will facilitate the monitoring of beta-agonists and beta-blockers in the competition sports.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / urine*
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / urine*
  • Chemical Fractionation / methods*
  • Clenbuterol / urine
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Linear Models
  • Metoprolol / urine
  • Propranolol / urine
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sodium Chloride / chemistry
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Solvents
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Propranolol
  • Metoprolol
  • Clenbuterol