Abstract
Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a well-established sample-preparation technique for environmental studies. The application of SPME has extended from the headspace extraction of volatile compounds to the capture of active components in living organisms via the direct immersion of SPME probes into the tissue (in vivo SPME). The development of biocompatible coatings and the availability of different calibration approaches enable the in vivo sampling of exogenous and endogenous compounds from the living plants and animals without the need for tissue collection. In addition, new geometries such as thin-film coatings, needle-trap devices, recession needles, coated tips, and blades have increased the sensitivity and robustness of in vivo sampling. In this paper, we detail the fundamentals of in vivo SPME, including the various extraction modes, coating geometries, calibration methods, and data analysis methods that are commonly employed. We also discuss recent applications of in vivo SPME in environmental studies and in the analysis of pollutants in plant and animal tissues, as well as in human saliva, breath, and skin analysis. As we show, in vivo SPME has tremendous potential for the targeted and untargeted screening of small molecules in living organisms for environmental monitoring applications.
Highlights
The analysis of contaminants in environmental samples is the first step in evaluating the negative impact of such compounds in an ecosystem and the living organisms within it
Needle-trap device (NTD) technology coupled with thermal-desorption photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-PI-TOFMS) has been used for in vivo breath sampling of smokers and nonsmokers; the results of this study showed that the device was able to detect xenobiotic substances such as benzene, toluene, styrene, and ethylbenzene in the breath samples collected from the smokers.[90]
The development of new biocompatible coatings and Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) device geometries has enabled the use of in vivo SPME in various environmental studies focusing on the living system of plants, animals, and humans
Summary
The analysis of contaminants in environmental samples is the first step in evaluating the negative impact of such compounds in an ecosystem and the living organisms within it. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was introduced in 1989 as a fast, simple, and green sample-preparation technique that can be used with a wide range of samples.[5] SPME combines sampling, cleanup, and preconcentration into a single step and can be coupled with modern instruments, such as gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS)[6] and liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry (LC-MS).[7] Recently, researchers have enabled fast and high-throughput analysis in pharmaceutical studies via the direct coupling of SPME devices to MS.[8] SPME is a nonexhaustive extraction method, which means that it only extracts a free fraction of the analyte from the sample matrix This feature enables the measurement and discussion of the bioavailability of various environmental contaminants.[9]. This paper concludes by considering future possibilities for SPME and its potential in environmental studies
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