The use of microextraction packed sorbent (MEPS) to arsenic speciation in clinical samples by LC-ICP-MS.

• Grant number: 13/18716-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Barbosa Júnior
• Grantee: Aline Santana da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is an element widely distributed in the environment in different chemical formsbeing inorganic forms, As (III) and As (V), the most toxic. On the other hand, organic forms of arsenic are much less toxic and usually found in foods, mainly of marine origin.For evaluation of environmental or occupational exposure to arsenic, the determination of the element in urine and/or blood is being used. However, for a correct identification of risks associated with the exposure to the most toxic forms, chemical speciation analysis should be performed. The coupling of liquid chromatography with plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS) has been the most widely instrumentation used for this purpose. However, one of the most limiting and tedious steps is the sample preparation, since it increases the total analysis time.Based on that, alternatives procedures for the extraction and quantification of As species in biological matrices have been proposed. However, there is still a deficiency in rapid and simple methods for chemical speciation of As in clinical samples, particularly blood and plasma. Therefore, this project proposes the development of a fast and simple method, using microextraction in packed sorbent (MEPS), to obtain a cleanup suitable for biological samples (blood or plasma) associated with the separation and pre-concentration of arsenic species following the determination by LC-ICP-MS.Finally, the methods developed will be applied in toxicological studies of arsenic within the Graduate Program in Toxicology of the FCFRP-USP.