Towards more selective sorbents for extraction of drugs and biomarkers from biological fluids using molecularly imprinted polymers

Sammanfattning: Sample preparation has a critical role as a first step in analytical processes, especially in bioanalysis and environmental analysis. A good sample preparation technique should be robust and stable, regardless of the sample matrix.The aim of this thesis is to design and synthesize molecularly imprinted polymers that can be used in various sample preparation techniques, such as on-line MEPS, on-line SPE and on-line monolithic pre-columns used for the extraction of drugs, hormones, and cancer biomarkers from human plasma and urine samples. Additional aim was to provide full automation, on-line coupling, short sample preparation time and high-throughput.In this thesis MIP in MEPS was used on-line with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the determination of sarcosine in human urine and plasma samples. The method was fully automated and the packed sorbent could be used for about hundred extractions. In additional work a coated needle with MIP-Sol-Gel as thin layer was prepared and used for the microextraction of bilirubin from human plasma and urine. Small sample volumes could be handled and the validation of the method showed that the method was robust and selective.In a further work MIP-SPE on-line with HPLC was used for the extraction and determination of dextromethorphan in human plasma samples. MIP-SPE showed a good selectivity and high recovery (87% - 92%). On-line MIP monolithic pre-column was prepared and used in a coupled system for the extraction of tramadol in human plasma and urine samples. The MIP monolithic pre-column showed good selectivity and high extraction recovery was obtained (91-96%). The extraction and analysis of human insulin in plasma and pharmaceutical formulation solutions were carried out using MIP-SPE on-line with HPLC. The validation of the method showed that the method was accurate and robust.