Studying and Modifying Paper to Lower Detection Limits for Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry

In this work we developed paper spray mass spectrometry methods to obtain lower detection limits for pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse. The second chapter investigates blood fractionation membranes for their ability to obtain lysis free plasma from whole blood without changing the drug concentration relative to centrifugation. We presented a device capable of obtaining and analyzing plasma samples from whole blood and obtaining quantitative results similar to traditional methods. In the third chapter the properties of the paper substrate are investigated systematically for their impacts on ionization efficiency and recovery in combination with the solvent choice. The fourth and fifth chapters detail a simple method for lowering detection limits using a method called paper strip extraction. In this method biofluids are wicked through either sesame seed oil or solid phase extraction powder on a paper strip to concentrate and preserve (in the case of THC) analytes out of biofluids. The use of 3D printing for rapid prototyping and how it potentially impacts paper spray MS sensitivity is outlined in the final chapter.