On-line coupling of a clean-up device with supported liquid membrane to capillary electrophoresis for direct injection and analysis of serum and plasma samples

A simple sample clean-up device with planar supported liquid membrane (SLM) was developed and coupled on-line to capillary electrophoresis (CE) for direct injection of human body fluids. Donor and acceptor compartments of the device were filled with diluted body fluid and deionized water, respectively, and the two solutions were separated by a thin SLM. Analytes of interest were selectively transported from the donor solution through the SLM into the acceptor solution by diffusion whereas interfering matrix components were efficiently retained on the SLM. Equilibrium between the concentrations of analytes at the SLM was obtained typically in 5 min. Then a CE separation capillary was inserted into the acceptor compartment to firmly touch the SLM and the pretreated sample was hydrodynamically injected into the capillary. The analytical procedure was demonstrated by rapid pretreatment, on-line injection, and CE determination of selected amino acids in human serum and plasma samples. 1-Ethyl-2-nitrobenezene and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (15%, v/v) was used as the selective SLM for clean-up of the body fluids and 0.5 M acetic acid was used as a background electrolyte solution for CE analysis of the pretreated amino acids. Concentrations of amino acids on acceptor side of the SLM reached 40–58% of their original concentrations in donor solution after 5 min equilibration time and then remained constant proving that equilibrium was achieved at the SLM. Injection of the pretreated samples was highly repeatable with RSD values of peak areas 2.4–8.4% and 3.4–10.5% for standard solutions and real samples, respectively. Limits of detection between 0.75 and 2.5 μM were achieved, corresponding to 3.75–12.5 μM in 1:4 diluted real samples, which ensure sensitive determination of most amino acids in the body fluids. The developed method is fast, simple, efficient, cheap and selective and may be applied to determination of a wide range of analytes in various samples with complex matrices.

► We present new clean-up device coupled on-line to capillary electrophoresis.
► The device is based on disposable supported liquid membranes.
► These membranes selectively transport analytes but retain sample matrix.
► The applicability is presented on determination of amino acids in serum and plasma samples.
► The method may be applied to various analytes in various complex samples.