Metal-organic frameworks as promising solid-phase sorbents for the isolation of third-generation synthetic cannabinoids in biological samples

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 1246; p. 340887
• Main Authors: Martínez-Pérez-Cejuela, Héctor, Conejero, Mónica, Amorós, Pedro, El Haskouri, Jamal, Simó-Alfonso, Ernesto Francisco, Herrero-Martínez, José Manuel, Armenta, Sergio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2023
• Subjects: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; Drugs of abuse; Humans; Metal-Organic Frameworks; Organometallic Compounds; Phthalic Acids; Preconcentration; Saliva and urine; Solid Phase Extraction - methods; SPE cartridge; UiO-66; Preconcentration; SPE cartridge; UiO-66; Drugs of abuse; Saliva and urine
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.340887

In this work, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were used for the first time as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents for the isolation of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) from oral fluids and subsequently quantified by LC-fluorescence detection (FLD). In this context, different MOF families were synthesized and tested under SPE mode. UiO-66 was the family selected, being the amino functionalized (NH2-UiO-66) the best candidate in terms of extraction performance. After the method optimization, several analytical parameters of interest were obtained, reaching limits of detection (LODs) as low as 0.6–0.8 μg L−1 and precision values (expressed as RSD) lower than 10.6%. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of 8 SCs in different oral fluids at three spiked levels with recoveries between 67 and 114%. This method claims to be a real alternative for screening purposes, being a cost-effective procedure due to the price of the sorbent (<0.5 €/cartridge) and its recyclability (up to 12 uses), among others good features. [Display omitted] •MOFs are used for the first time as SPE sorbents for isolation of synthetic cannabinoids.•NH2-UiO-66 has shown the best results in terms of extraction performance.•SPE-LC-FLD provided good LODs and suitable recoveries.•The SPE cartridges showed satisfactory reusability and low-cost (0.5 €/unit).•The optimized protocol was successfully applied to human oral fluids.