Nanomaterials as sorbents for sample preparation in bioanalysis: A review.

In recent years, application of nanomaterials as sorbent has gained the attention of researchers in bioanalysis. Different nanomaterials have been utilized as the sorbent in extraction techniques such as solid phase extraction, dispersive solid phase extraction, magnetic solid phase extraction, microextraction by packed sorbent, solid phase microextraction, dispersive μ-solid phase extraction, and stir bar sorptive extraction. In the present review, different nanomaterials which have recently been utilized as sorbent for bioanalysis are classified into six main groups, namely metallic, metallic and mixed oxide, magnetic, carbonaceous, silicon, and polymer-based nanomaterials. Application of these nanomaterials in different extraction techniques for bioanalysis has been reviewed. This study shows that magnetic nanomaterials have gained significant attention owing to their magnetic separation ability. In addition, the present review shows that there is a lack in the application of nanomaterials for on-line analysis procedures, most probably due to some intrinsic properties of nanomaterials such as spontaneous agglomeration.