Critical role of single drop microextraction for drug isolation from complex matrix towards efficient pharmaceutical analysis: Advances and challenges

The accurate quantification of drug analytes in complex matrices, such as serum, urine, and pharmaceutical formulations, depends heavily on efficient sample preparation techniques to eliminate matrix interference. Analytical instruments often face limitations in handling raw matrices, making effective pretreatment a prerequisite for precise and reproducible results. While recent trends like miniaturization, automation, high-throughput systems, and reduced solvent usage have advanced sample preparation, they often fall short of addressing the intricacies of complex matrices. Single-drop microextraction (SDME) has emerged as a powerful, eco-friendly alternative for isolating analytes using minimal organic solvent volumes. Its compatibility with advanced analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, CE, and spectrophotometry makes it a versatile pharmaceutical analysis tool. This review examines the theoretical foundations and practical applications of SDME, highlighting its role in isolating drugs from biological fluids, pharmaceutical formulations, and environmental samples. The classification of topics discussed includes the analyte isolation in various sample types, the impact of matrix effects on drop stability, and the integration of artificial intelligence in optimizing SDME processes. This review aims to comprehensively understand SDME's potential in modern pharmaceutical analysis by presenting a structured overview.