Preparation and application of solid-phase microextraction fiber based on molecularly imprinted polymer for determination of anabolic steroids in complicated samples

A relatively selective, chemically and physically robust SPME fiber was developed in a simple way with testosterone-imprinted polymer, and then directly coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for selective extraction and analysis of anabolic steroids. The factors influencing polymerization (i.e., cross-linker, polymerization solvent, polymerization time) were optimized in detail and the polymer was characterized by scanning electron microscope, infrared spectrometer and thermogravimetric analyzer. Furthermore, the extraction performance of the MIP-coated SPME fibers such as extraction ability and selectivity was evaluated. Moreover, the interaction mode between target analytes and fiber coating was deducted. Finally, the method for extraction and determination of androsterone, stanolone, androstenedione and methyltestosterone by the homemade MIP-coated SPME fibers with GC–MS was obtained. It was applied to the simultaneous analysis of four anabolic steroids in the spiked human urine with the satisfactory recoveries.