Recent developments and applications of microextraction techniques in drug analysis

Sample preparation is important for isolating desired components from complex matrices and greatly influences their reliable and accurate analysis. Recent trends in sample preparation include miniaturization, automation, high-throughput performance, online coupling with analytical instruments, and low-cost operation through extremely low or no solvent consumption. Microextraction techniques, such as liquid-phase microextraction and solid-phase microextraction, have these advantages over the traditional approaches of liquid-liquid extraction and conventional solid-phase extraction. This review focuses primarily on these microextraction techniques developed over the last decade, and presents a summary of the characteristics of various approaches in drug analysis.