In situ solid phase microextraction sampling of analytes from living human objects for mass spectrometry analysis

Hu, B.; Ouyang, G.

Human samples offer attractive sources for disease diagnosis and biomarker discovery. In situ sampling and analysis of human samples is of paramount importance in the understanding of human physiological and pathological processes that take place in living human objects, and has been applied in various fields, including clinical diagnosis, forensic science, environmental health, biological chemistry, food and pharmaceutical science. Various strategies for coupling in situ solid phase microextraction with mass spectrometry (SPME-MS)-based approaches provide versatile methods to gain insight into human health. In this review, the developments and applications of in situ SPME-MS for detecting analytes from human exhaled breath, skin surface, and body fluids, are reviewed. Calibration methods and new features of in situ SPME-MS for onsite sampling and analysis of human metabolites are highlighted. The perspectives on further development and potential applications are also discussed.