Rapid solid phase extraction device and methods
A method and system for solid phase extraction of a compound of interest from a sample matrix using a syringe having a barrel and a plunger, a sorbent for use with the syringe, and a desalting purification column having an end configured to receive liquid from the syringe body.
1. A method for extracting a compound of interest from a sample matrix, comprising the steps of:
a. drawing a sample matrix into a syringe having a plunger;
b. contacting the sample matrix with a sorbent to bind the compound of interest to the sorbent;
c. drawing an elution buffer into the syringe containing the sorbent; and
d. expressing the elution buffer containing the compound of interest through a desalting column subsequent to pushing the elution buffer containing the compound of interest through the sorbent.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of mixing the sample matrix with one or more buffers.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the syringe is prefilled with one or more buffer solutions before the sample matrix is drawn into the syringe.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one buffer solution is placed in the syringe before the sample matrix is drawn into the syringe.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one buffer solution is placed in the syringe after the sample matrix is drawn into the syringe.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said one or more buffers comprises a plurality of buffers.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least two of the plurality of buffers are placed into the syringe sequentially.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least two of the plurality of buffers are placed into the syringe premixed.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more buffers is a lysis buffer.
10. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of allowing the sample matrix and the one or more buffers to incubate for a suitable period of time after the mixing.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sorbent comprises beads which float free in the syringe when mixed with the sample matrix.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of said one or more buffers comprises an alcohol.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: silica, acid-washed silica, glass beads, acid-washed glass beads, zeolite, silica gel, filters embedded with silica particles, and mixtures thereof.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is in the form of a sorbent membrane.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expressing comprises pushing or pulling the elution buffer containing the compound of interest through the desalting column using the plunger.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the elution buffer containing the compound of interest to gravity drip through the desalting column.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of washing the sorbent between steps (b) and (c).
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desalting column further comprises gel filtration or size-exclusion chromatography media.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pushing the elution buffer containing the compound of interest through the sorbent and subsequently through the desalting column in a single push, the single push resulting in a desalted liquid containing the compound of interest being ejected from the desalting column.