November 14, 2018: Emanuela Gionfriddo, Ph. D.
Solid-Phase Microextraction in food, environmental and bio-analysis: development of high-throughput analytical methods and new sampling devices for analysis of complex matrices
Emanuela Gionfriddo, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The University of Toledo
Wednesday, November 14th, 2018
5:30 pm – Reception
6:00 pm – Talk
University of Detroit Mercy
Ford Life Sciences, Room 115
4001 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221
Abstract
It is without doubt that sample preparation often poses the ultimate challenge to any analytical method development process, whether for targeted or non-targeted analyses in complex matrices. Recently, trends in the development of newer sample preparation techniques have shifted toward greener and faster approaches, guaranteeing minimal consumption of organic solvents, promoting the production of reusable extraction devices and enhancement of analysis throughput through automated systems. Solid Phase Microextraction is an alternative sample preparation technique that complies with all the features above mentioned and provides simultaneous extraction/enrichment of the targeted analytes often avoiding the use of organic solvents. Recent applications and advances of SPME analysis of complex matrices will be discussed, with emphasis on the development and use of matrix compatible coatings that enable direct immersion SPME analysis in food, environmental and bio-matrices, and provide opportunities for in-vivo and ex-vivo sampling in different specimens. In particular, considering the recent advances of the SPME technique in metabolomics and untargeted analysis, the need for extraction phases able to extract a broad range of analytes in complex matrices it is of utmost importance. The development of a new generation of SPME coatings constituted by hydrophobic-lipophilic balance particles (HLB) immobilized by polytetrafluoroethylene amorphous fluoroplastic (PTFE AF) will be presented. The main novel aspect of this extraction phase is its suitability for both thermal and solvent desorption, characteristic that allows its use in both liquid- and gas- chromatographic applications. The extraction performances of the new PTFE AF/HLB coatings were tested and compared to conventional coatings used for metabolomics investigation by gas- and liquid-chromatography. In order to test the mass transfer of the analytes in the PTFE AF polymer, an attentive study on adsorption kinetics was carried out and the results were compared to what obtained with coatings based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyacrylonitrile (PA) as particle immobilizers. Moreover, the matrix-compatibility of the coating was tested in various biological fluids and food matrices.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo is currently an Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of University of Toledo (OH, USA), her research focuses on the development and application of microextraction probes for sample preparation of food, environmental and biological matrices for both untargeted and targeted analysis. She received her B.Sc. (2008) and M.Sc. (2010) in Chemistry and her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry (2013) at University of Calabria (Italy). She joined Prof. Pawliszyn’s group in 2014 as Post-Doctoral Fellow and manager of the Gas-Chromatography section of the Industrially Focused Analytical Research Laboratory (InFAReL), and within three years became a Research Associate. Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo has currently authored 23 research articles, 4 reviews, and a patent on PTFE-based SPME coatings. She also has conducted various webinars for organizations such as Millipore-Sigma and Gerstel Inc., where she presented aspects of her research studies.
Research work in Dr. Gionfriddo’s lab focuses on the use of basic and advanced analytical separation tools for the analysis of complex biological and environmental matrices, with particular emphasis on alternative green sample preparation methodologies. As part of her future goals, special emphasis will be given to the development of new microextraction devices able to selectively enrich and pre-concentrate analytes from complex matrices for targeted or untargeted analysis, e.g., in metabolomics studies. The development of microextraction devices of different geometries with diverse sorbents will be tailored to fit various analytical needs and their compatibility to different separation platforms such as gas- and liquid-chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis will be tested. In addition, considering the emergence of new technologies for rapid screening analysis, devices developed will be explored for direct coupling approaches to mass spectrometers. Last but not least, nanoparticles will also be considered for the development of novel probes capable of sub-milliliter volume sampling from biological matrices, with guaranteed minimal invasiveness for in-vivo sampling.
Location and Parking Information
A University of Detroit Mercy McNichols Campus Map with building locations is available here.
This event is free and all are welcome to attend!
