A new method for the simultaneous determination of cyanotoxins (Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin) in mussels using SPE-UPLC-MS/MS

The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction conditions of Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), Microcystin-RR (MC-RR), Microcystin-YR (MC-YR) and Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) simultaneously from mussels by using response surface methodology (RSM) and to validate the method by a dual solid phase extraction (SPE) system combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The optimal parameters were: 90% MeOH (% v/v) for the extraction, a solvent/sample ratio of 75 and 15% MeOH in the extract before loading onto SPE. Mussels were spiked at 10; 37.5 and 75 ng g−1 fresh weight (f.w) of the 4 toxins, showing linear ranges of 0.5–75 ng g−1 f.w; low values for the limits of detection (0.01–0.39 ng g−1 f.w.) and quantification (0.23–0.40 ng g−1 f.w.); acceptable recoveries (70.37–114.03%) and relative standard deviation (%RSDIP) values (2.61–13.73%). The method was successfully applied to edible mussels exposed to cyanobacterial extracts under laboratory conditions, and it could allow the monitoring of these cyanotoxins in environmental mussel samples.