Analysis of opioid peptides by on-line SPE-CE-ESI-MS.

In this study, SPE-CE-ESI-MS is explored for the preconcentration and separation of dilute solutions of six opioid peptides. First, a CE-ESI-MS methodology was developed and validated. LODs of around 1 microg/mL were obtained for all the studied peptides. For SPE-CE-ESI-MS experiments, a home-made SPE microcartridge containing a C18 sorbent was constructed near the inlet of the separation capillary. After optimizing the on-line preconcentration methodology, LODs between 10 and 0.1 ng/mL were achieved. Repeatability, reproducibility, durability of the microcartridges and linearity of the SPE-CE-ESI-MS methodology were also investigated and compared to the values obtained by CE-ESI-MS. Finally, human plasma samples fortified with opioid peptides were analyzed by SPE-CE-ESI-MS in order to show the potential of the methodology for the analysis of biological fluids.