Automated microcolumn-switching system for drug analysis by direct injection of human plasma

This study presents the application of a system that joins the known advantages of capillary liquid chromatography (e.g., higher concentration of the analytes and lower consumption of mobile phase) with those of column-switching using restricted access material (RAM) (sample clean up and extraction) to the analysis of fluoxetine in plasma samples. Automatically, the system loads the biological sample, while a RAM–BSA-C18 column (50 mm × 520 μm) excludes the macromolecules and focuses the analytes; afterwards, a second mobile phase elutes the analytes, in backflush mode, and provides the separation in a C18 analytical column (100 mm × 520 μm). We optimized the procedure for a total analysis time of 25 min. Using this approach the calibration curve shows r = 0.998 with a linearity range from 20 to 500 ng ml−1. Precision, calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD), was < 20%. The developed miniaturized system showed to be adequate and attractive, demonstrating a large potential for sample preparation.