## 1 Introduction  
In recent years, the application of mesoporous silicas in sorbent-based extraction techniques for sample preparation has gained research interest [1]. This is due to the unique properties and remarkable advantages of these materials such as (i) large surface area and high pore volume, with uniform mesopores of 2-10 nm; (ii) well-defined pore network arrangement (e.g., 2D hexagonal, 3D cubic, wormhole, etc. ); (iii) tunability of the morphology and size of the particles; and (iv) good thermal and chemical stability. Furthermore, mesoporous silicas can be easily functionalized with organic ligands that allow for tuning the chemical properties of the surface and expanding the range of their application for the extraction and purification of various analytes by solid-phase extraction (SPE) [2]. The choice of the type of sorbent packed in cartridges for SPE is crucial, as it regulates aspects such as capacity and selectivity, depending on the interaction of the sorbent with the functional groups of the analyte (e.g., hydrophilic, hydrophobic, ion-exchange, or mixed-mode) [3]. In this sense, the selection of the appropriate mesoporous silica sorbent is important to optimize the extraction performance of the SPE process since it determines the specific surface area, the accessibility of the active sites, and the interaction with the target molecules, allowing better recovery and purification of the analytes in a complex matrix [4]. Although SBA-15 (Santa Barbara Amorphous type material-15) has been one of the most studied mesoporous silicas as sorbent for SPE [5; 6; 7], other mesoporous silicas also show great potential. For example, MCM-41 (Mobil Composition of Matter) and MSU-X (Michigan State University material) are widely recognized for their adsorptive properties. MCM-41, with its small-pore hexagonal structure, exhibits a remarkable order that facilitates the adsorption of a variety of analytes, including metals [8; 9; 10], pesticides [11; 12], and pharmaceuticals [13; 14; 15] in different samples. On the other hand, MSU-X lacks a regular packing order but exhibits a three-dimensional porous structure with wormhole-like pores and uniform diameters, which gives it versatility in the adsorption of substances in complex matrices, including applications in the analysis of pesticides [16; 17] or metals [18], among others. Nevertheless, there is still a requirement to investigate the potential of new sorbents for SPE with diverse core structures and functionalities, depending on the specific use for which they are intended, to promote the retention of different analytes and achieve high enrichment and good recovery. These factors are mandatory to reduce detection limits to a level compatible with the detection technique [19]. Furthermore, thanks to these new sorbents, miniaturized sample preparation procedures can be developed, using smaller quantities of sorbents, solvents, and reagents, to comply with the precepts of Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) [20; 21]. This is of particular importance in food safety, where sample preparation is a critical and indispensable step to determine the presence of contaminants at low concentrations in complex food matrices [2; 22]. Nowadays, there is great interest in the development of analytical methodologies that facilitate the monitoring of natural toxins in food products, to comply with current regulations and thus contribute to food safety [23]. For example, the recently published Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 establishes the need to control tropane alkaloids (TAs), setting limits for atropine and scopolamine in processed cereal-based infant foods, unprocessed sorghum, millet, maize, buckwheat as well as for herbal infusions, ranging from 1 to 50 \(\upmu\)g/kg as the sum of atropine and scopolamine [24]. TAs are secondary metabolites naturally produced by different plants, mainly of the Solanaceae family.