Application of Nanoanalysis: Amine-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica nanoparticles for Mercury Speciation in Human Samples

Mercury (Hg) causes hazardous cumulative effects in humans; like central nervous system disorders, hypertension and chromosomal aberrations. Therefore, due to high toxicity and bioaccumulation factor, mercury determination and speciation in human blood is very important. A sensitive, accurate, precise and inexpensive method was demonstrated for preconcentration and speciation of ultra-trace mercury in human blood samples. The amine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (NH2-MSNPs) as solid phase sorbent was prepared and investigated in a new and simple dispersive-ionic liquid-micro-solid phase extraction (D-IL-μ-SPE) procedure for rapid speciation and determination of trace inorganic and organic mercury [Hg+2 , (CH3Hg)+ and (C2H5Hg)+] in human blood samples. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range, limit of detection and preconcentration factor were obtained 0.05-9.8 μg L−1, 15 ng L−1 and 9.6 for human blood samples, respectively (Peak Area, RSD<5%). The reusability and batch adsorption capacity of the MSNPs and NH2-MSNPs were also obtained 25 and 159 mg g-1, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for validation of methodology by standard reference materials (SRM).