Chemical Biopsy Probe, a New Tool for Next Generation of Analytical Chemists

Recent worldwide efforts towards the implementation of sustainable technologies will have an impact on the future practice of analytical chemistry. At present development of devices to facilitate the chemical determination of organic compounds in complex matrices involves two main directions. One is to design sensors and the other approach is to use hyphenated separation with mass spectrometry technologies such as GC/MS and LC/MS which allows multicomponent determination. We have been proposing to combine a sensor design strategy offering good isolation selectivity with the chromatography/spectrometry technologies facilitating multicomponent characterization with high accuracy, reproductivity, and precision. For this approach to be effective the “sensor” would need to accumulate enough analyte during sampling to facilitate sensitive determinations without the need for a sampling matrix. To accomplish this task we have been designing matrix-compatible high analyte capacity probes with flexible shapes and morphologies. The probes consist of a thin matrix-compatible coating of the extraction phase containing sorbent particles and the binder forming the protection layer preventing direct contact of the particles with the matrix while also facilitating adhesion of the particles to the support. The designed probes perform non-exhaustive sampling in a similar way as the sensor does, but for much longer times to allow the accumulation of a sufficient amount of analytes required for sensitive detection. Such chemical biopsy probes selectively enrich smaller molecules which are able to diffuse through the protection layer formed by the binder while leaving the investigated system intact and therefore eliminating the effect of macromolecules present in the sample on the measurement quality. After completion of the integrated sampling/sample preparation step, the isolated components are introduced to the appropriate analytical instrument via thermal or solvent desorption.