Recent trends in SPME concerning sorbent materials, configurations and in vivo applications

The ever-increasing requirement for determination of environmental pollutants and studies of comprehensive metabolite networks in complex real-life samples parallel advancements in solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The availability of state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation offering higher sensitivity and specificity has contributed to an increased range of applications covered by SPME.This review summarizes the most basic aspects in SPME development, addresses some of the challenges encountered in the analysis of food and environmental samples, and particularly emphasizes complex sample analysis. We also outline the development of new extracting materials, novel sampling configurations and approaches compatible with complex sample and/or on-site determinations.To serve as a guide to potential opportunities for continued innovation in SPME applications, we especially emphasize the evolution of on-site and in vivo SPME techniques and their feasibility for targeted determination of organic pollutants and biologically-active compounds, and global metabolite analysis.

► Recent developments in analysis of food and environmental samples by SPME reviewed.
► New extracting materials and novel sampling configurations and approaches.
► Applications of SPME to complex sample and/or on-site determinations are discussed.
► The evolution of on-site and in vivo SPME techniques.
► SPME techniques to facilitate targeted and global metabolite analysis.