Core-shell poly(dopamine) magnetic nanoparticles for the extraction of estrogenic mycotoxins from milk and yogurt prior to LC-MS analysis

Abstract

In this work, core-shell poly(dopamine) magnetic nanoparticles synthesized in our laboratory have been applied as dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) sorbent for the extraction of a group of six mycotoxins of interest including zearalenone, a-zearalanol, b-zearalanol, a-zearalenol, b-zearalenol and zearalanone, from complex matrices such as milk (whole and skimmed cow milk and semi-skimmed goat milk) and yogurt (an unsweetened natural yogurt) prior to their LC–MS analysis. 17b-estradiol-D5 was used as internal standard. The procedure includes a deproteinization step prior to the extraction procedure. Matrix-matched calibration and a recovery study were carried out in the selected matrices, providing good linearity, relative recovery values in the range 70–120% with RSDs lower than 16% and LODs between 0.21 and 4.77 lg/L for milk samples and between 0.29 and 4.54 lg/kg for yogurt samples.