Rapid and sensitive analysis of trace β-blockers by magnetic solid-phase extraction coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive method for analyzing trace β-blockers in complex biological samples, which involved magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), was developed. Novel nanosilver-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles with an interlayer of poly(3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) (polyDOPA@Ag-MNPs) were synthesized and used as MSPE adsorbents to extract trace β-blockers from biological samples. After extraction, the analytes loaded on the polyDOPA@Ag-MNPs were desorbed using an organic solvent and analyzed by FTICR-MS. The method was rapid and sensitive, with a total detection procedure of less than 10 min as well as limits of detection and quantification in the ranges of 3.5–6.8 pg/mL and 11.7–22.8 pg/mL, respectively. The accuracy of the method was also desirable, with recoveries ranging from 80.9% to 91.0% following the detection of analytes in human blood samples. All the experimental results demonstrated that the developed MSPE-FTICR-MS method was suitable for the rapid and sensitive analysis of trace β-blockers in complex biological samples.