Microwave-assisted extraction of tricyclic antidepressants from human serum followed by high performance liquid chromatography determination

A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method has been developed and optimized for the extraction of six tricyclic antidepressants (TCAD; nordoxepin, nortriptyline, imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin, dezypramine) from human serum. Optimal parameters of MAE (solvent and extraction temperature) for water solution of these drugs were defined. The microwave-assisted procedure developed was validated by extraction of serum samples at two concentration levels and then successfully applied to the analysis of reference material. Limit of quantification, precision and recovery were found for the studied compounds in the ranges 0.04–0.15 μg/mL, 1.57–4.34% (RSD) and 94–105%, respectively.