Microwave-assisted hydrolysis and extraction of tricyclic antidepressants from human hair.

Wietecha-Posłuszny, Renata; Garbacik, Aneta; Woźniakiewicz, Michał; Kościelniak, Paweł

The objective of this research was to develop, optimize, and validate a modern, rapid method of preparation of human hair samples, using microwave irradiation, for analysis of eight tricyclic antidepressants (TCADs): nordoxepin, nortriptyline, imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin, desipramine, clomipramine, and norclomipramine. It was based on simultaneous alkaline hair microwave-assisted hydrolysis and microwave-assisted extraction (MAH-MAE). Extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). A mixture of n-hexane and isoamyl alcohol (99:1, v/ v) was used as extraction solvent and the process was performed at 60°C. Application of 1.0 mol L NaOH and microwave irradiation for 40 min were found to be optimum for hair samples. Limits of detection ranged from 0.3 to 1.2 μg g and LOQ from 0.9 to 4.0 μg g for the different drugs. This enabled us to quantify them in hair samples within average therapeutic concentration ranges.

HAIR; MICROWAVES; HYDROLYSIS; ANTIDEPRESSANTS; EXTRACTION (Chemistry)

Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2011, Vol 399, Issue 9, p3233

1618-2642

Academic Journal

10.1007/s00216-010-4440-y