On-chip microsolid-phase extraction in a disposable sorbent format using mesofluidic platforms

• On-chip sample processing exploiting microsolid-phase extraction (µSPE).
• Mesofluidic platforms for automatic µSPE in renewable mode.
• Tips in packing and removing sorbent (nano)particles on-chip.
• Tips for handling beads on-chip regardless of physicochemical characteristics.
• Progress towards a universal fluidic platform for disposable µSPE columns.

On-chip integration of sample-processing procedures other than electrophoretic-based approaches is still deemed challenging in the microfluidic arena. This review outlines progress towards accommodating sorptive microextraction methods that exploit advanced flow methodology. Based upon software-controlled, pressure-driven programmable flow, mesofluidic lab-on-valve platforms have proved suitable for on-chip microsolid-phase extraction methods using renewable sorptive entities. However, a number of stringent requirements were reported in the literature for repeatable handling of sorptive particles in mesofluidic platforms. Demonstrated with examples in the environmental and bioanalytical fields, this article gives tips for reliable in-line manipulation of sorbent materials in a disposable format, regardless of the dimensions, the morphology and the density of beads, and for amelioration of column efficiency in separating and/or preconcentrating target species in troublesome samples.