Microextraction of antidepressant drugs into syringes packed with a nanocomposite consisting of polydopamine, silver nanoparticles and polypyrrole

We describe a nanocomposite prepared from polydopamine, silver nanoparticles, and polypyrrole (PDA-Ag-PPy) that can be used for the microextraction in packed syringe (MEPS) of tricyclic antidepressants from urine samples. The PDA-Ag-PPy composite was prepared in-situ by the reduction of silver ion - doped PPy during oxidative polymerization of dopamine. The PDA-Ag coatings on the nanoribbon - shaped PPy represent a highly porous, inorganic-organic hybrid nanomaterial that has a wide range of applications. The nanocomposite was characterized by FTIR and scanning electron microscopy. It is shown to be an efficient sorbent for the MEPS of the tricyclic antidepressants amitriptyline, imipramine and citalopram from urine samples. After extraction, the antidepressants were desorbed with acetonitrile and analyzed by GC-MS. Parameters influencing the extraction and desorption processes were optimized. The method has an analytical range that extends from 0.03 to 100 mu g L-1. Limits of detection (S/N = 3) and limits of quantification (for S/N = 10) are in the range from 0.03 - 0.05 mu g L-1 and 0.1 - 0.2 mu g L-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations (for n = 4) are in the 5-9 % range. If applied to the analysis of spiked urine samples, the relative recoveries are between 88 and 104 %.