Three-layer structure graphene/mesoporous silica composites incorporated with C8-modified interior pore-walls for residue analysis of glucocorticoids in milk by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

• An enrichment (glucocorticoids) technique based on graphene@mSiO2-C8 was developed.
• The mesopores on the surface of the microspheres exclude proteins from the matrix.
• Different extraction variables optimized.
• C8-functionalized graphene@mSiO2 composite nanosheets for extraction of glucocorticoids.

Three-layer structure graphene/mesoporous silica composites incorporated with C8-modified interior pore-walls (graphene@mSiO2-C8) were prepared and applied for efficient extraction of glucocorticoid residuals in milk followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis. The graphene@mSiO2-C8 nanocomposites were synthesized by coating C8-modified mesoporous silica onto hydrophilic graphene nanosheets through a simple surfactant-mediated co-condensation sol–gel process. The obtained nanosheets possess unique properties of large surface area (632 m2/g), extended plate-like morphology in the exterior surface, highly open pore structure with uniform pore size (2.8 nm), numerous C8-modified interior pore-walls, as well as good water dispersibility. The performance of the prepared graphene@mSiO2-C8 materials for extracting small hydrophobic molecules directly from complex protein-rich samples was evaluated by analysis of glucocorticoids in milk. Extraction conditions such as sorbents amount, type and volume of eluting solvent, time of adsorption and desorption were investigated and optimized to achieve the best efficiency. Method validations including linearity, recovery, repeatability, and limit of detection (LOD) were also studied. The results indicated that this methodology provided low LOD (S/N = 3, 0.0075–0.03 ng mL−1) and good linearity (0.03–60 ng mL−1, R2 > 0.996) for glucocorticoids. Satisfactory reusability and stability were also obtained during the extraction. Finally, the graphene@mSiO2-C8 composites were successfully applied to the extraction and residue analysis of glucocorticoids in real milk samples. The experimental results showed that this novel approach offered an attractive choice for convenient, efficient and rapid solid-phase extraction of targeted hydrophobic compounds in biological samples.

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