Direct coupling of sample preparation with mass spectrometry
(MS)
can speed up analysis, enabling faster decision-making. In such combinations,
where the analysis time is mainly defined by the extraction procedure,
magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction emerges as a relevant technique
because of its rapid workflow. The dispersion and retrieval of the
magnetic sorbent are typically uncoupled stages, thus reducing the
potential simplicity. Stir bar sorptive dispersive microextraction
(SBSDME) is a novel technique that integrates both stages into a single
device. Its miniaturization (mSBSDME) makes it more portable and compatible
with low-availability samples. This article reports the direct combination
of mSBSDME and MS using a needle-based electrospray ionization (NESI)
emitter as the interface. This combination is applied to determine
tetrahydrocannabinol in saliva samples, a relevant societal problem
if the global consumption rates of cannabis are considered. The coupling
requires only the transference of the magnet (containing the sorbent
and the isolated analyte) from the mSBSDME to the hub of a hypodermic
needle, where the online elution occurs. The application of 5 kV on
the needle forms an electrospray on its tip, transferring the ionized
analyte to the MS inlet. The excellent performance of mSBSDME-NESI-MS/MS
relies on the sensitivity (limits of detection as low as 2.25 ng mL–1), the precision (relative standard deviation lower
than 15%), and the accuracy (relative recoveries ranged from 87 to
127%) obtained. According to the results, the mSBSDME-NESI-MS/MS technique
promises faster and more efficient chemical analysis in MS-based applications.