In this work, we developed a new approach to the analysis of the
lung cancer biomarkers,
hexanal and
heptanal in human blood that was based on headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) with droplet derivatization, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Aldehydes in blood were headspace extracted, concentrated, and derivatized by a suspended microdrop
solvent containing the derivatization agent O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The
aldehyde oximes formed in the microdrop
solvent were analyzed by GC-MS. The optimal HS-SDME with droplet derivatization parameters extraction
solvent of
decane, sample temperature of 40 degrees C, extraction time of 6 min, stirring rate of 1100 rpm, and
solvent volume of 2.0 microL were obtained and used for analysis of
hexanal and
heptanal in blood. The method reproducibility, linearity, recovery, and detection limit were studied and the obtained results demonstrated the method feasibility. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the quantification of
hexanal and
heptanal in
cancer blood and normal blood. Due to sample extraction, concentration, and derivatization being performed in a single step, the method provided a simple, rapid, low-cost, and efficient approach to analysis of
aldehydes in blood samples.