Speakers - 2026

Title: Electromembrane extraction on a microfluidic device for the determination of drugs in biological fluids

Abstract

Electromembrane extraction (EME) is a promising sample preparation technique due to its high selectivity, low solvent use, and ability to preconcentrate charged analytes. However, EME often suffers from low recovery of highly polar compounds, instability of the supported liquid membrane (SLM), and reduced robustness in complex matrices. Coupling EME with SPME addresses these issues: EME enables selective ion transfer and cleanup, while SPME provides strong enrichment factor and instrument compatibility. Here, a microfluidic on-chip electromembrane-surrounded solid-phase microextraction (EMSPME) method was developed for antidepressant determination in complex biological matrices. The EME system comprised donor and acceptor phases separated by a porous membrane containing the SLM. A poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–graphene oxide (PEDOT–GO) nanocomposite was electrodeposited onto the SPME fiber as a conductive coating, serving as both acceptor electrode and extraction medium. Under an electric field, analytes migrated across the SLM and were absorbed onto the fiber, then thermally desorbed in the GC–MS inlet for detection. Six tricyclic antidepressants—amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, maprotiline, and sertraline—were targeted. Optimized conditions yielded detection limits of 0.005–0.025 µg L −1 . The method showed excellent linearity: 0.010–500 µg L−1 for imipramine and sertraline, 0.025–500 µg L−1 for amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and desipramine, and 1.000–250 µg L−1 for maprotiline. The technique was applied to human bone marrow aspirate, urine, and plasma, with recoveries of 93–105%, confirming reproducibility and applicability. Compared with conventional SPME, EMSPME reduced carryover and matrix effects while maintaining high sensitivity. This work introduces a versatile, miniaturized platform for trace drug analysis that combines microfluidics, electromembrane extraction, and conductive polymer–nanomaterial coatings, suited for bioanalytical and forensic applications in complex matrices.