Development and Preliminary Application of a Method to Detect Sucralose in Placenta and Serum

Sucralose, an artificial sweetener widely used in sugar-free foods and beverages, raises human exposure and potential accumulation in tissues and organs. Given the profound long-term impact of maternal diet on offspring, its safety during pregnancy is of particular concern. Existing detection methods primarily target food matrices and lack reliable, efficient approaches for biological sample analysis. To address this gap, we developed an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method based on existing food detection methods to quantify sucralose in mouse serum and placenta. Method validation showed excellent linearity in the range of 20-1250 nmol/L, with limit of detection (LOD) of 4.88 nmol/L and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 9.77 nmol/L. The precision, accuracy, matrix effects, and freeze-thaw stability were all within acceptable limits. Using the method described above, we detected sucralose in both serum and placenta of mice following subchronic exposure, confirming its bioaccumulation, systemic absorption, and transplacental transfer, suggesting the need for further reproductive toxicity studies. In summary, this study developed and preliminarily applied a method for determining sucralose in mouse serum and placenta, providing a methodological reference for the toxicological evaluation and safety assessment of sucralose, and aids in improving food safety risk systems and the formulation of evidence-based public health policies.