GC determination of nicotine in subcutaneous adipose tissue obtained by minimal trauma tissue biopsy

Abstract

Nicotine has been analyzed by gas chromatography nitrogen-phosphorus detection in tissue samples obtained by repeated minimal trauma tissue biopsies from human subcutaneous adipose tissue. For sample preparation, a single extraction step of the tissue samples with chloroform was performed at 30–45°C. Calibration curves generated with spiked porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue were linear over a concentration range from 0.20 to 100 μg g−1, therefore, the limit of quantification was fixed at 0.20 μg g−1. The limit of detection was found to be 0.05 μg g−1 adipose tissue. The recovery of nicotinespiked porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue by chloroform extraction was 100±8%. The performance of the assay was not affected by the complex lipid matrix. The method was employed for analysis in a clinical study on nicotine penetration from a transdermal delivery system through the skin of moderate smokers.