Studies to evaluate the applicability of DBS followed by analysis by LC-MS/MS for the quantitation of catecholamines and xanthines

• Grant number: 25/02303-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: February 01, 2026
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Alvaro José dos Santos Neto
• Grantee: Taís Betoni Rodrigues
• Supervisor: Christophe Stove
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ghent University (UGent), Belgium
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/07258-2 - Studies to increase robustness, versatility and efficacy for the determination of alanine, carnosine, catecholamines, caffeine and their metabolites in blood and muscle by LC-MS/MS, BP.PD

Abstract

Individuals who practice physical activity often choose to use nutritional supplements searching for better performance, recovery or muscle gain. Several studies discuss caffeine as an option for better performance in different types of exercise. However, the variability in the results obtained raised the question that supplementation may not be effective for all individuals, justifying the need for studies that can demonstrate which are the determining factors that may potentially have a positive effect of this supplementation. Catecholamines play a significant role in the central nervous system (CNS) and can act as neurotransmitters or hormones, regulating various body functions. The quantification of caffeine, its metabolites and catecholamines in different biological samples is a fundamental step for the evaluation of the response of each individual, while challenging from an analytical point of view. For studies with limited sample volumes involving hundreds of samples, storing and handling large quantities requires microscale sampling and extraction techniques. In the past decade, the dried blood spots (DBS) method has emerged as an alternative microsampling approach for bioanalysis because it offers good stability for short-term storage, enables minimally invasive sampling, provides potential for self-sampling, uses smaller sample volumes, requires less storage and transportation space, and is more cost-effective. The development of a fast, efficient, robust, and versatile analytical method contributes to technological advancements with potential applications for various purposes, such as disease and intoxication diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and tracking the progression of endocrine, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. To overcome the aforementioned limitations, researchers decided to evaluate the applicability of DBS microsampling as an alternative for determining epinephrine and norepinephrine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).