Optimization of a rapid QuEChERS sample treatment method for HILIC-MS2 analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in mussels

A rapid and simple QuEChERS sample treatment was proposed for the development of a selective hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-ESI-MS2-based method for the determination of saxitoxins (STXs) in mussel samples. Among different sorbents, ABS Elut-NEXUS phase, composed of polystyrene cross-linked with 50% divinyl benzene and poly(methyl methacrylate), provided the best results. The effects of experimental parameters, including sorbent amount, vortexing time and centrifugation time were investigated and optimized by experimental design. In particular, regression models and desirability functions were applied to find the experimental conditions providing the highest global extraction response. The method was validated under the optimized conditions; detection and quantification limits in the 3-159 μg/kg and 7-436 μg/kg ranges respectively were obtained, except for C2 for which highest values were calculated due to its low ESI ionization efficiency. Finally, the analysis of twenty-eight mussel samples permitted to detect and quantify some of the investigated STXs, proving the applicability of the devised method.