This work evaluates the potential of methacrylate monoliths with multi-walled carbon nanotubes incorporated into the polymeric network for the extraction of antidepressants from human urine. The method is based on a micropipette solid-phase extraction tip containing a hybrid monolithic material covalently attached to the polypropylene housing. A polymer layer made from poly(ethylene dimethacrylate) was bound to the inner surface of a polypropylene tip via UV grafting. The preparation of the monolith and the microextraction steps were optimized in terms of adsorption capacity. Limits of detection ranged from 9 to 15 μg·L-1. The average precision of the method varied between 3 and 5% (intra-tips), and from 4 to 14% (inter-tips). The accuracy of the method was evaluated through a recovery study by using spiked samples. Graphical abstract Hybrid polymer monoliths containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared in pipette tips by photo-polymerization approach. The extraction devices were used for the extraction of antidepressants in urine samples.
Keywords: Biological samples; Carbon nanoparticles; Drugs; Hybrid monolith; Liquid chromatography; Microextraction; Photografting process; Porous polymer; UV attachment.