Innovative, simple, and green: A sample preparation method based on 3D printed polymers

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) 2023-05, Vol.257, p.124380-124380, Article 124380
• Main Authors: Kołodziej, Dominika, Sobczak, Łukasz, Goryński, Krzysztof
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Additive manufacturing; Fused deposition modeling; HPLC-MS/MS; Oral fluid; Polyamide; Polyurethane; Saliva; Sample preparation
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124380

The present study evaluates the capability of fifteen 3D printed thermoplastic polymers as novel stationary phases for the extraction of forty-three physicochemically diverse analytes from fortified human oral fluid samples. Prototype extraction devices were prepared in 96-well plate-compatible format using fused deposition modeling 3D printer. The sample preparation was performed with 5-step protocol utilizing 96-well plates and semiautomated benchtop shaker. All resulting extracts were analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography (operated in reversed-phase gradient elution mode) and tandem mass spectrometry (with electrospray ionization and triple quadrupole mass spectrometer). Exceptionally favorable results were observed for three polymer types: polyamide 6 (reinforced with 15% carbon fiber), LAYFOMM-60 (polyurethane with water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol), and S-FLEX 90A (thermoplastic polyurethane). Furthermore, this study also introduces an automated and repeatable 3D printing method for the fast fabrication of high-throughput, and highly selective sample preparation devices, most of which are ready-to-use without any additional processing or chemical functionalization. As such, the proposed printing method represents a significant step towards the introduction of novel polymeric stationary phases for analytical sample preparation, thus providing laboratory personnel with a method that is safer and more convenient, while minimizing negative environmental impacts. [Display omitted] •15 polymer-based prototypes were used to extract small molecules from oral fluid.•All prototypes were prepared by 3D printing from commercially available materials.•43 prohibited substances (drugs of abuse and doping agents) were used as analytes.•Polyamide 6 and two different types of polyurethane provided the best results.