As recentes técnicas miniaturizadas de preparo de amostra, microextração em fase sólida (SPME) e in tube SPME, apresentam uma série de vantagens em relação aos métodos clássicos de extração (extração líquido-líquido e extração em fase sólida), tais como: não requer instrumentação analítica sofisticada, utilização de pequenas quantidades de solventes orgânicos, rápido processo operacional, permite automação das análises, a reutilização das fases extratoras, e integra em um único sistema a extração, concentração e introdução da amostra no cromatográfico. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo a padronização, validação e comparação dos métodos SPME/LC-UV com dessorção off line e in tube SPME/LC-UV, para a análise dos antidepressivos da nova geração (mirtazapina, citalopram, paroxetina, duloxetina, fluoxetina e sertralina) em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. As variáveis: fase extratora, pH da matriz, tempo e temperatura de extração e de dessorção e força iônica apresentaram grande influência na eficiência do processo SPME. O método SPME/LC-UV padronizado, apresentou limite de quantificação (LQ) de 25 a 50 ng mL-1, ampla faixa de linearidade (LQ ? 500 ng mL-1, r2 > 0,9970) e precisão inter ensaios com coeficientes de variação menor que 15% para todos os analitos. Apesar das baixas taxas de recuperação obtidas, de 8,1% (citalopram) a 17,1% (mirtazapina), o método SPME/LC-UV apresentou seletividade e sensibilidade analítica adequada. As variáveis: pH da matriz, fluxo e número de ciclos aspirar/dispensar e volume de amostra apresentaram grande influência na eficiência do processo in tube SPME. A etapa de precipitação de proteínas do plasma, anterior ao processo de extração, foi necessária para a eliminação dos compostos endógenos. O método in tube SPME/LC-UV padronizado apresentou seletividade adequada, precisão inter ensaios com coeficiente de variação menor que 10%, LQ de 20 a 50 ng mL-1, linearidade na faixa de concentração do LQ a 500 ng mL-1, com r2 > 0,9983 para todos os analitos e recuperação absoluta de 5,32% (mirtazapina) a 43,5% (sertralina). A técnica in tube SPME, quando comparada à SPME, permitiu a automação das análises, menor exposição do analista às amostras biológicas e solventes orgânicos, menor tempo de análise e menor volume de amostra de plasma. A eficácia dos métodos, SPME/LC-UV e in tube SPME/LC-UV, foi comprovada através das análises de amostras de plasma de pacientes em terapia com os antidepressivos, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / The recent miniaturized sample techniques preparation, solid phase microextraction (SPME) and in tube SPME, present several advantages when compared with classic extraction methods (liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase extraction), such as: it does not require sophisticated analytical instrumentation, use small organic solvent amounts, fast operational process, automation of the analyses, reuse extraction phases, and incorporates, into a single procedure, sample extraction, concentration and sample introduction. The aim of this work is development, validation and comparison of methods SPME/LC-UV with off line desorption and in tube SPME/LC-UV, for analyses of antidepressants of the new generation (mirtazapine, citalopram, paroxetine, duloxetine, fluoxetine and sertraline) in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring. Variables: extraction phase, matrix pH, time and temperature of extraction and desorption and ionic strength showed great influence in SPME process efficiency. The method SPME/LC-UV presented limit of quantification (LOQ) variety from 25 to 50 ng mL-1, wide range the of linearity (LOQ 500 ng mL-1, r2 > 0.9970) and interassays precision with coefficient of variation lower than 15% for all analytes. Although the low recovery, from 8.1% (citalopram) to 17.1% (mirtazapine), the method SPME/LC-UV presented adequate selectivity and analytical sensitivity. Variables: matrix pH, flow and number of aspirate/dispense cycles and sample volume showed great influence in the in tube SPME process efficiency. The protein precipitation of the plasma steps, previous to the extraction process, was necessary for the endogenous compounds elimination. The method in tube SPME/LC showed adequate selectivity, interassays precision with coefficient of variation lower than 10%, LOQ variety from 20 to 50 ng mL-1, linearity in range concentration from LOQ to 500 ng mL-1, with r2 > 0.9983 for all analytes and recovery from 5.32% (mirtazapine) to 43.5% (sertraline). The technique in tube SPME, compared with the SPME, permitted the automation of the analyses, minor exposition of the analyst to the biological samples and organic solvent, shorter analyses time and minor plasma sample volume. The effectiveness methods, SPME/LC-UV and in tube SPME/LC-UV, was proven through the analyses of plasma samples of patients in therapy with antidepressants, for therapeutic drug monitoring.

As recentes técnicas miniaturizadas de preparo de amostra, microextração em fase sólida (SPME) e in tube SPME, apresentam uma série de vantagens em relação aos métodos clássicos de extração (extração líquido-líquido e extração em fase sólida), tais como: não requer instrumentação analítica sofisticada, utilização de pequenas quantidades de solventes orgânicos, rápido processo operacional, permite automação das análises, a reutilização das fases extratoras, e integra em um único sistema a extração, concentração e introdução da amostra no cromatográfico. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo a padronização, validação e comparação dos métodos SPME/LC-UV com dessorção off line e in tube SPME/LC-UV, para a análise dos antidepressivos da nova geração (mirtazapina, citalopram, paroxetina, duloxetina, fluoxetina e sertralina) em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. As variáveis: fase extratora, pH da matriz, tempo e temperatura de extração e de dessorção e força iônica apresentaram grande influência na eficiência do processo SPME. O método SPME/LC-UV padronizado, apresentou limite de quantificação (LQ) de 25 a 50 ng mL-1, ampla faixa de linearidade (LQ ? 500 ng mL-1, r2 > 0,9970) e precisão inter ensaios com coeficientes de variação menor que 15% para todos os analitos. Apesar das baixas taxas de recuperação obtidas, de 8,1% (citalopram) a 17,1% (mirtazapina), o método SPME/LC-UV apresentou seletividade e sensibilidade analítica adequada. As variáveis: pH da matriz, fluxo e número de ciclos aspirar/dispensar e volume de amostra apresentaram grande influência na eficiência do processo in tube SPME. A etapa de precipitação de proteínas do plasma, anterior ao processo de extração, foi necessária para a eliminação dos compostos endógenos. O método in tube SPME/LC-UV padronizado apresentou seletividade adequada, precisão inter ensaios com coeficiente de variação menor que 10%, LQ de 20 a 50 ng mL-1, linearidade na faixa de concentração do LQ a 500 ng mL-1, com r2 > 0,9983 para todos os analitos e recuperação absoluta de 5,32% (mirtazapina) a 43,5% (sertralina). A técnica in tube SPME, quando comparada à SPME, permitiu a automação das análises, menor exposição do analista às amostras biológicas e solventes orgânicos, menor tempo de análise e menor volume de amostra de plasma. A eficácia dos métodos, SPME/LC-UV e in tube SPME/LC-UV, foi comprovada através das análises de amostras de plasma de pacientes em terapia com os antidepressivos, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / The recent miniaturized sample techniques preparation, solid phase microextraction (SPME) and in tube SPME, present several advantages when compared with classic extraction methods (liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase extraction), such as: it does not require sophisticated analytical instrumentation, use small organic solvent amounts, fast operational process, automation of the analyses, reuse extraction phases, and incorporates, into a single procedure, sample extraction, concentration and sample introduction. The aim of this work is development, validation and comparison of methods SPME/LC-UV with off line desorption and in tube SPME/LC-UV, for analyses of antidepressants of the new generation (mirtazapine, citalopram, paroxetine, duloxetine, fluoxetine and sertraline) in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring. Variables: extraction phase, matrix pH, time and temperature of extraction and desorption and ionic strength showed great influence in SPME process efficiency. The method SPME/LC-UV presented limit of quantification (LOQ) variety from 25 to 50 ng mL-1, wide range the of linearity (LOQ 500 ng mL-1, r2 > 0.9970) and interassays precision with coefficient of variation lower than 15% for all analytes. Although the low recovery, from 8.1% (citalopram) to 17.1% (mirtazapine), the method SPME/LC-UV presented adequate selectivity and analytical sensitivity. Variables: matrix pH, flow and number of aspirate/dispense cycles and sample volume showed great influence in the in tube SPME process efficiency. The protein precipitation of the plasma steps, previous to the extraction process, was necessary for the endogenous compounds elimination. The method in tube SPME/LC showed adequate selectivity, interassays precision with coefficient of variation lower than 10%, LOQ variety from 20 to 50 ng mL-1, linearity in range concentration from LOQ to 500 ng mL-1, with r2 > 0.9983 for all analytes and recovery from 5.32% (mirtazapine) to 43.5% (sertraline). The technique in tube SPME, compared with the SPME, permitted the automation of the analyses, minor exposition of the analyst to the biological samples and organic solvent, shorter analyses time and minor plasma sample volume. The effectiveness methods, SPME/LC-UV and in tube SPME/LC-UV, was proven through the analyses of plasma samples of patients in therapy with antidepressants, for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Frente a crescente necessidade de se monitorar diferentes contaminantes em matrizes complexas se faz necessário utilizar uma etapa de preparo de amostras eficiente e que esteja aliada à técnicas analíticas de elevada sensibilidade. Consequentemente, vem se aprimorando e desenvolvendo novos materiais sorventes utilizados para aumentar o desempenho do preparo de amostras e de fases estacionárias para cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. Atualmente, materiais sorventes seletivos como líquidos iônicos, polímeros impressos molecularmente, grafeno, entre outros, vêm se destacando para extrair diferentes contaminantes. Diante desse contexto, esta tese teve como objetivo desenvolver diferentes materiais extratores para serem utilizados na microtécnica de extração in-tube SPME acoplada on-line com UPLC-MS/MS na análise de triazinas e sulfonamidas em matrizes complexas. O material que apresentou maior seletividade pelas classes dos compostos de interesse foi caracterizado por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectroscopia vibracional na região do infravermelho. Tanto para as triazinas quanto para as sulfonamidas o polímero impresso molecularmente apresentou maior afinidade e foi utilizado como fase extratora para extrair e pré-concentrar os analitos utilizando a microténica in-tube SPME UPLC-MS/MS. Além disso, para as triazinas utilizou-se também como fase de extração óxido de grafeno ancorado em sílica. As metodologias desenvolvidas nessa tese foram todas otimizadas e posteriormente validadas para analisar as matrizes de interesse que foram: uva, suco de uva integral, leite e água. Após à validação, as amostras foram analisadas com seus respectivos métodos validados, sendo que nenhum dos analitos foram encontrados considerando-se os limites das metodologias desenvolvidas, as quais se mostraram eficientes quando aplicadas nas análises das triazinas e sulfonamidas em suas respectivas amostras fortificadas. Outra abordagem explorada nesse trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de colunas tubulares abertas do tipo PLOT para serem utilizadas como colunas de extração em sistemas automatizados na cromatografia líquida. Colunas de sílica fundida foram preparadas para avaliar a formação da fase e sua aderência na parede do tubo. Para as colunas PS-DVB, os melhores resultados foram obtidos com duas horas de polimerização em banho de água. No entanto, para as colunas ODS a polimerização foi feita utilizando forno, e a fase não aderiu corretamente na parede do tubo para as colunas de 250 μm de diâmetro interno, requerendo estudos mais aprofundados para o preparo adequado destas colunas. / In view of the increasing need to monitor different contaminants in complex matrices, it is necessary to use efficient sample preparation techniques combined with highly sensitive analytical techniques. Consequently, new sorbent materials have been improved and developed to be used aiming to increase the performance of sample preparation and stationary phases for high performance liquid chromatography. Currently, selective sorbents such as ionic liquids, molecularly imprinted polymers, graphene, among others, have been emphasized to extract different contaminants. In this context, this thesis aimed to develop different extractive materials to be used in in-tube solid phase microextraction coupled on-line with UPLC-MS/MS in the analysis of triazines and sulfonamides in complex matrices. The material that presented greater selectivity for the classes of the compounds of interest was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy in the infrared region. For triazines and sulfonamides the molecularly imprinted polymer had higher affinity and was used as the extractive phase to extract and preconcentrate the analytes using the in-tube SPME UPLC-MS/MS. In addition, another extraction phase - graphene oxide anchored in silica - was also used. The methodologies developed in this thesis were all optimized and later validated to analyze the target compounds in the following matrices: grape, grape juice, milk and water. After the validation, the samples were analyzed with their respective validated methods and none of the analytes were found considering the limits of the methodologies developed, which were efficient when applied in the analysis of the triazines and sulfonamides in their respective fortified samples. Another approach explored in this work was the development of open tubular columns (PLOT) to be used as extraction columns in automated sample preparation - liquid chromatography systems. Silica columns were prepared in order to evaluate the formation of the phase and its adhesion to the tube wall. For the PS-DVB columns the best results were obtained with two hours of water-bath polymerization. However, for the ODS columns the polymerization done using an oven the phase did not adhere correctly in the tube wall the columns with 250 μm internal diameter. These results suggest that further experiments are required in order to better understand the preparation of these columns.

Frente a crescente necessidade de se monitorar diferentes contaminantes em matrizes complexas se faz necessário utilizar uma etapa de preparo de amostras eficiente e que esteja aliada à técnicas analíticas de elevada sensibilidade. Consequentemente, vem se aprimorando e desenvolvendo novos materiais sorventes utilizados para aumentar o desempenho do preparo de amostras e de fases estacionárias para cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. Atualmente, materiais sorventes seletivos como líquidos iônicos, polímeros impressos molecularmente, grafeno, entre outros, vêm se destacando para extrair diferentes contaminantes. Diante desse contexto, esta tese teve como objetivo desenvolver diferentes materiais extratores para serem utilizados na microtécnica de extração in-tube SPME acoplada on-line com UPLC-MS/MS na análise de triazinas e sulfonamidas em matrizes complexas. O material que apresentou maior seletividade pelas classes dos compostos de interesse foi caracterizado por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectroscopia vibracional na região do infravermelho. Tanto para as triazinas quanto para as sulfonamidas o polímero impresso molecularmente apresentou maior afinidade e foi utilizado como fase extratora para extrair e pré-concentrar os analitos utilizando a microténica in-tube SPME UPLC-MS/MS. Além disso, para as triazinas utilizou-se também como fase de extração óxido de grafeno ancorado em sílica. As metodologias desenvolvidas nessa tese foram todas otimizadas e posteriormente validadas para analisar as matrizes de interesse que foram: uva, suco de uva integral, leite e água. Após à validação, as amostras foram analisadas com seus respectivos métodos validados, sendo que nenhum dos analitos foram encontrados considerando-se os limites das metodologias desenvolvidas, as quais se mostraram eficientes quando aplicadas nas análises das triazinas e sulfonamidas em suas respectivas amostras fortificadas. Outra abordagem explorada nesse trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de colunas tubulares abertas do tipo PLOT para serem utilizadas como colunas de extração em sistemas automatizados na cromatografia líquida. Colunas de sílica fundida foram preparadas para avaliar a formação da fase e sua aderência na parede do tubo. Para as colunas PS-DVB, os melhores resultados foram obtidos com duas horas de polimerização em banho de água. No entanto, para as colunas ODS a polimerização foi feita utilizando forno, e a fase não aderiu corretamente na parede do tubo para as colunas de 250 μm de diâmetro interno, requerendo estudos mais aprofundados para o preparo adequado destas colunas. / In view of the increasing need to monitor different contaminants in complex matrices, it is necessary to use efficient sample preparation techniques combined with highly sensitive analytical techniques. Consequently, new sorbent materials have been improved and developed to be used aiming to increase the performance of sample preparation and stationary phases for high performance liquid chromatography. Currently, selective sorbents such as ionic liquids, molecularly imprinted polymers, graphene, among others, have been emphasized to extract different contaminants. In this context, this thesis aimed to develop different extractive materials to be used in in-tube solid phase microextraction coupled on-line with UPLC-MS/MS in the analysis of triazines and sulfonamides in complex matrices. The material that presented greater selectivity for the classes of the compounds of interest was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy in the infrared region. For triazines and sulfonamides the molecularly imprinted polymer had higher affinity and was used as the extractive phase to extract and preconcentrate the analytes using the in-tube SPME UPLC-MS/MS. In addition, another extraction phase - graphene oxide anchored in silica - was also used. The methodologies developed in this thesis were all optimized and later validated to analyze the target compounds in the following matrices: grape, grape juice, milk and water. After the validation, the samples were analyzed with their respective validated methods and none of the analytes were found considering the limits of the methodologies developed, which were efficient when applied in the analysis of the triazines and sulfonamides in their respective fortified samples. Another approach explored in this work was the development of open tubular columns (PLOT) to be used as extraction columns in automated sample preparation - liquid chromatography systems. Silica columns were prepared in order to evaluate the formation of the phase and its adhesion to the tube wall. For the PS-DVB columns the best results were obtained with two hours of water-bath polymerization. However, for the ODS columns the polymerization done using an oven the phase did not adhere correctly in the tube wall the columns with 250 μm internal diameter. These results suggest that further experiments are required in order to better understand the preparation of these columns.

Sol-gel capillary microextraction (CME) is a new direction in solvent-free extraction and preconcentration of trace analytes. CME presents significant interest in environmental, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, biomedical, agricultural, food, flavor, and a host of other important areas. Sol-gel CME utilizes advanced material properties of organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel polymers to perform efficient extraction and enrichment of target analytes from a variety of matrices. In this dissertation, two novel sol-gel coatings were developed for CME: (a) sol-gel benzyl-terminated dendrimer coating, and (b) sol-gel polytetrahydrofuran (poly-THF) coating. A detailed investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of the newly developed sol-gel coatings in solvent-free extraction of a wide range of polar and nonpolar analytes. Sol-gel chemistry was used to chemically immobilize dendrimer- and poly-THF-based hybrid organic-inorganic coatings on fused silica capillary inner surface. The sol-gel coatings were created using a coating solution containing a sol-gel active organic component (dendrimer or poly-THF), a sol-gel precursor (methyltrimethoxysilane, MTMOS), a sol-gel catalyst (trifluoroacetic acid, TFA, 5% water) and a deactivating reagent (hexamethyldisilazane, HMDS). Sol-gel reactions were conducted inside a hydrothermally treated fused silica capillary for 60 min. A wall-bonded sol-gel coating was formed via condensation of silanol groups residing on the capillary inner surface with those on the sol-gel network fragments evolving in close vicinity of the capillary walls. Due to the strong chemical bonding with capillary inner walls, these sol-gel coatings showed excellent thermal and solvent stability in CME in hyphenation with gas chromatography (GC).

Two highly polar sol-gel coatings were developed for capillary microextraction (CME). One of the coatings contained cyanopropyl-polydimethylsiloxane (CN-PDMS) and the other low molecular weight polyethylene glycol. These highly polar coatings were immobilized via sol-gel chemistry allowing for direct chemical bonding to the inner surface of fused silica capillaries. These sol-gel coated microextraction capillaries were employed in CME for solvent-free microextraction and preconcentration of trace analytes (polar, moderately polar, and nonpolar) from aqueous matrices. CN-PDMS and short chain PEG extraction phases exhibit both polar and polarizable characteristics. Therefore, both sol-gel CN-PDMS and short chain sol-gel PEG coatings were able to extract analytes of different polarity from aqueous media. Both sol-gel CN-PDMS and sol-gel PEG coatings provided effective extraction of polar analytes such as free fatty acids, alcohols, and phenols without requiring derivatization, pH adjustment or salting out procedures commonly used in SPME experiments with conventional coatings. For each of these coatings, detection limits on the order of nanogram/liter (ng/L) were achieved for both polar and nonpolar analytes extracted simultaneously from aqueous media followed by GC-FID analysis. Both sol-gel CN-PDMS and short chain sol-gel PEG coated microextraction capillaries showed excellent run-to-run and capillary-to-capillary extraction reproducibility (GC peak area RSD < 6% & 5%, respectively) for nonpolar as well as polar analytes. For the sol-gel CN-PDMS coatings, the upper allowable conditioning temperatures were 330 degrees C and 350 degrees C, for the extraction of polar and nonpolar organic analytes, respectively. Similarly, the sol-gel PEG coatings used for the extraction of polar organic analytes survived a conditioning temperature of 340 degrees C. Both sol-gel CN-PDMS and sol-gel PEG coated microextraction capillaries showed no significant changes in the peak areas of the extracted analytes even after being washed with organic solvents (dichloromethane and methanol (1:1), v/v) for 24 hours. The excellent thermal and solvent stabilities can be attributed to the presence of chemical bonds between the sol-gel coatings and the fused silica surface.

For the first time, germania-based hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel materials were developed for analytical sample preparation and chromatographic separation. Being an isostructural analog of silica (SiO2), germania (GeO2) is compatible with silica network. This structural similarity, which is reflected by the relative positions of germanium and silicon in the periodic table, stimulated our investigation on the development of germania-based sol-gel hybrid organic-inorganic coatings for analytical applications. Sol-gel sorbents and stationary phases reported to date are predominantly silica-based. Poor pH stability of silica-based materials is a major drawback. In this work, this problem was addressed through development of germania-based organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel materials. For this, tetramethoxygermane (TMOG) and tetraethyoxygermane (TEOG) were used as precursors to create a sol-gel network via hydrolytic polycondensation reactions to provide the inorganic component (germania) of the organic-inorganic hybrid coating. The growing sol-gel germania network was simultaneously reacted with an organic ligand that contained sol-gel-active sites in its chemical structure. Hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and 3-cyanopropyltriethoxysilane (CPTES) served as sources of nonpolar and polar organic components, respectively. The sol-gel reactions were performed within fused silica capillaries. The prepared sol-gel germania coatings were found to provide excellent pH and thermal stability. Their extraction characteristics remained practically unchanged after continuous rinsing of the sol-gel germania-PDMS capillary for 24 hours with highly basic (pH=13) and/or acidic (pH = 1.3) solution. They were very efficient in extracting non-polar and moderately polar analytes such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones. Possessing the polar cyanopropyl moiety, sol-gel germania cyanopropyl-PDMS capillaries were found to effectively extract polar analytes such as alcohols, fatty acids, and phenols. Besides, they also showed superior thermal stability compared with commercial cyano-PDMS coatings thanks to the covalent attachment of the coating to capillary surface achieved through sol-gel technology. Their extraction characteristics remained unchanged up to 330°C which is significantly higher than the maximum operation temperature ( < 280 ºC) for commercial cyano-PDMS coatings. Low ng/L detection limits were achieved for both non-polar and polar test solutes. Our preliminary results also indicated that sol-gel hybrid germania coatings have the potential to offer great analytical performance as GC stationary phases.

As determinações, em níveis de traços, de fármacos em fluidos biológicos e de multirresíduos (contaminantes) em amostras alimentícias são de extrema importância, pois geram valiosos dados para fins, respectivamente, de monitorização terapêutica (individualização do regime de dosagem) e controle de qualidade (segurança alimentar). A demanda por métodos analíticos de alta resolução e com baixos limites de quantificação, para análises de amostras complexas, tem impulsionado a química analítica para o desenvolvimento de soluções inovadoras, destacando-se aquelas voltadas ao desenvolvimento ou avaliação de novos sistemas analíticos. Neste contexto, na primeira etapa desta tese, o sistema automatizado de microextração em fase sólida no capilar de polipirrol (in-tube PPY SPME) acoplado à cromatografia líquida com detecção fluorimétrica foi desenvolvido (lab-made) para a determinação enantiosseletiva de fluoxetina e de seu metabólito norfluoxetina em amostras de plasma, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. Na segunda etapa, o método cromatografia gasosa bidimensional abrangente acoplada à espectrometria de massas com analisador quadrupolo (GC x GC / qMS) foi padronizado e validado para análise de multirresíduos de agrotóxicos em tomates frescos, para fins de controle de qualidade. Dentre os resultados obtidos podemos destacar: na primeira etapa o ganho de seletividade da fase extratora de polipirrol, em sistema miniaturizado e automatizado de preparo de amostra, hifenado à separação cromatográfica (LC) com detecção fluorimétrica; e na segunda etapa, o incremento da resolução cromatográfica e detectabilidade do sistema de cromatografia gasosa bidimensional com detecção espectrométrica com analisador quadrupolo. As análises de amostras de plasma de pacientes em terapia com fluoxetina e de amostras de tomates comerciais comprovaram a aplicabilidade dos métodos propostos, padronizados e validados, em níveis de concentrações que incluem o intervalo terapêutico preconizado para a fluoxetina em plasma e os limites máximos de resíduos de agrotóxicos estabelecidos para a cultura de tomate. / Determination of trace levels of drugs in biological fluids and multiresidue (contaminants) in food samples is extremely important because this generates valuable data for therapeutic drug monitoring (individualization of dosage regimen) and quality control (food safety), respectively. Because of the demand for analytical methods with high resolution and low limits of quantification for analysis of complex samples, analytical chemistry has stimulated the development of innovative approaches, especially those aimed at developing or evaluating new analytical systems. In this context, in the first stage of this thesis the automated solid-phase microextraction capillary polypyrrole (in-tube \"PPY SPME) coupled to liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection was developed (lab-made) for enantioselective determination of fluoxetine and its metabolite norfluoxetine in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring. In the second stage of this work, the GC x GC / qMS method was developed for multiresidues analysis of pesticides in fresh tomatoes for the purpose of quality control. In the first stage of the research the gain in terms of the selectivity of the polypyrrole extraction phase in hyphenated and automated system for sample preparation and chromatographic separation (LC) with fluorimetric detection is worthy of note. As for the second step, the highlight is the improvement in chromatographic resolution as well as in the detectability system of the system consisting of two-dimensional gas chromatography and spectrometric detection with quadrupole analyzer. Analyses of plasma samples from patients undergoing therapy with fluoxetine and of samples of commercially available tomatoes proved the applicability of the proposed methods, which were optimized and validated at concentrations levels that include the therapeutic range for the analyzed drugs in plasma and the maximum residue limits of pesticides for growing tomatoes.

As determinações, em níveis de traços, de fármacos em fluidos biológicos e de multirresíduos (contaminantes) em amostras alimentícias são de extrema importância, pois geram valiosos dados para fins, respectivamente, de monitorização terapêutica (individualização do regime de dosagem) e controle de qualidade (segurança alimentar). A demanda por métodos analíticos de alta resolução e com baixos limites de quantificação, para análises de amostras complexas, tem impulsionado a química analítica para o desenvolvimento de soluções inovadoras, destacando-se aquelas voltadas ao desenvolvimento ou avaliação de novos sistemas analíticos. Neste contexto, na primeira etapa desta tese, o sistema automatizado de microextração em fase sólida no capilar de polipirrol (in-tube PPY SPME) acoplado à cromatografia líquida com detecção fluorimétrica foi desenvolvido (lab-made) para a determinação enantiosseletiva de fluoxetina e de seu metabólito norfluoxetina em amostras de plasma, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. Na segunda etapa, o método cromatografia gasosa bidimensional abrangente acoplada à espectrometria de massas com analisador quadrupolo (GC x GC / qMS) foi padronizado e validado para análise de multirresíduos de agrotóxicos em tomates frescos, para fins de controle de qualidade. Dentre os resultados obtidos podemos destacar: na primeira etapa o ganho de seletividade da fase extratora de polipirrol, em sistema miniaturizado e automatizado de preparo de amostra, hifenado à separação cromatográfica (LC) com detecção fluorimétrica; e na segunda etapa, o incremento da resolução cromatográfica e detectabilidade do sistema de cromatografia gasosa bidimensional com detecção espectrométrica com analisador quadrupolo. As análises de amostras de plasma de pacientes em terapia com fluoxetina e de amostras de tomates comerciais comprovaram a aplicabilidade dos métodos propostos, padronizados e validados, em níveis de concentrações que incluem o intervalo terapêutico preconizado para a fluoxetina em plasma e os limites máximos de resíduos de agrotóxicos estabelecidos para a cultura de tomate. / Determination of trace levels of drugs in biological fluids and multiresidue (contaminants) in food samples is extremely important because this generates valuable data for therapeutic drug monitoring (individualization of dosage regimen) and quality control (food safety), respectively. Because of the demand for analytical methods with high resolution and low limits of quantification for analysis of complex samples, analytical chemistry has stimulated the development of innovative approaches, especially those aimed at developing or evaluating new analytical systems. In this context, in the first stage of this thesis the automated solid-phase microextraction capillary polypyrrole (in-tube \"PPY SPME) coupled to liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection was developed (lab-made) for enantioselective determination of fluoxetine and its metabolite norfluoxetine in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring. In the second stage of this work, the GC x GC / qMS method was developed for multiresidues analysis of pesticides in fresh tomatoes for the purpose of quality control. In the first stage of the research the gain in terms of the selectivity of the polypyrrole extraction phase in hyphenated and automated system for sample preparation and chromatographic separation (LC) with fluorimetric detection is worthy of note. As for the second step, the highlight is the improvement in chromatographic resolution as well as in the detectability system of the system consisting of two-dimensional gas chromatography and spectrometric detection with quadrupole analyzer. Analyses of plasma samples from patients undergoing therapy with fluoxetine and of samples of commercially available tomatoes proved the applicability of the proposed methods, which were optimized and validated at concentrations levels that include the therapeutic range for the analyzed drugs in plasma and the maximum residue limits of pesticides for growing tomatoes.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most widely used analysis technique. However, its sensitivity is limited. Sample preconcentration methods, such as fiber-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and in-tube SPME (capillary microextraction) offer improved detection limits. It is, however, difficult to couple fiber SPME on-line with HPLC due to the need for complicated desorption devices. Such coupling is further complicated due to the limited solvent stability of the extracting phase both in the fiber and in-tube formats of SPME. In this research, surface-bonded sol-gel sorbents were developed to provide the solvent stability required for effective on-line hyphenation of capillary microextraction (CME) with HPLC. These sol-gel sorbents were prepared using (1) silica-based, (2) titania-based, and (3) germania-based sol-gel precursors. Sol-gel reactions were performed within fused silica capillaries to create a number of organic-inorganic hybrid sorbents in the form of surface-bonded coatings: (1) alkyl (methyl, octyl, octadecyl), (2) polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane, (3) titania poly(tetrahydrofuran), and (4) germania tri-block polymer. The sol-gel coated microextraction capillaries were capable of efficiently extracting a wide variety of analytes, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, aldehydes, aromatic compounds, amines, alcohols, and phenols with ng/L to pg/L detection limits. The sol-gel methyl coating demonstrated a counterintuitive ability to extract polar analytes. Sol-gel polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane coatings were found to be resistant to high temperature solvent exposure (150°C and 200°C), making them suitable for use in high-temperature liquid phase separations. To better understand how extraction takes place, effects of alkyl chain length and sol-gel precursor concentration were evaluated in the study on sol-gel alkyl coatings. The sol-gel titania poly(tetrahydrofuran) coating was also capable of extracting underivatized aromatic acids and polypeptides at pHs near their respective isolectric points. The sol-gel titania poly(tetrahydrofuran) coatings and the sol-gel germania tri-block polymer coatings demonstrated impressive resistance to extreme pH conditions, surviving prolonged exposure to 1.0 M HCl (pH approx. 0.0) and 1.0 M NaOH (pH approx. 14.0) with virtually no change in extraction behavior. Sol-gel germania tri-block polymer coatings were also stable under high temperature solvent conditions (200°C). In addition, for the first time, the analyte distribution constants between a sol-gel germania coating and the aqueous samples (Kcs) were determined.