2025
In this tutorial, we show how response surface methodology (RSM) can transform the optimization of electromembrane extraction (EME) from a trial-and-error exercise into a systematic and highly efficient process. We guide readers through every step of the workflow, from selecting the most relevant EME parameters and designing experiments, to building, evaluating, and interpreting statistical models. Supported by practical case studies, the tutorial highlights how RSM can reveal parameter interactions, identify optimal extraction conditions, and accelerate the development of robust, efficient, and greener EME methods…
In collaboration with scientists from the Department of Chemistry, UiO, we have demonstrated that EME provides exhaustive removal of proteins and cell medium components, while providing high extraction efficiency of pharmaceutical drugs and their metabolites after incubation of human stem-cell-derived liver organoids. This highlights the potential for EME to be implemented in organ-on-a-chip systems that may replace human and animal models during drug development…
In collaboration with scientists from Chulalongkorn University, the University of Oslo, and the Czech Academy of Sciences, we have developed the first 96-well gel-based electromembrane extraction (EME) system. By replacing conventional oil membranes with agarose gels, we demonstrate a fundamentally different extraction mechanism, where selectivity is governed by transport through an aqueous gel network rather than partitioning into an organic solvent. The study highlights the potential of gel-EME as a high-throughput, greener, and highly tunable platform for the extraction of polar analytes while providing efficient cleanup of proteins and phospholipids from plasma. At the same time, we identify important limitations, including electroendosmosis, high extraction currents, and reduced capacity for complex biological samples, providing a roadmap for the future development of gel-based extraction technologies...
In collaboration with scientists from Sichuan University, we have explored how the composition of the liquid membrane governs electromembrane extraction (EME) of veterinary drug residues in food. Using 80 prohibited or restricted veterinary compounds as model analytes, we developed three complementary liquid membranes that enabled selective extraction of multiple drug classes in a high-throughput 96-well format. The study provides new insights into the molecular interactions behind EME selectivity and establishes a practical framework for applying EME to food safety analysis, including the detection of drug residues in honey samples...
In collaboration with scientists from the University of Valencia, we have challenged a fundamental assumption in three-phase liquid membrane extraction (LME): that extraction across the membrane must be driven by ionization. We demonstrate that weakly acidic compounds can instead be extracted as neutral species using a solvent gradient created by a DMSO-water acceptor phase, eliminating the need for highly alkaline conditions. The study provides new insight into mass-transfer mechanisms in LME, broadens the range of compounds amenable to extraction, and opens new opportunities for mild, efficient sample preparation of complex biological samples...
In collaboration with scientists from the IUPAC project “Greenness of Official Standard Sample Preparation Methods”, we have evaluated the environmental footprint of 174 official analytical methods and 332 method variants from ISO, CEN, and major pharmacopoeias using the AGREEprep assessment tool. The results reveal that most standard methods still rely on solvent-intensive, energy-demanding, and waste-generating sample preparation procedures, with 67% scoring below 0.2 on a greenness scale from 0 to 1. By identifying the key weaknesses of current workflows, this study highlights the urgent need to modernize official methods and accelerate the adoption of greener, more sustainable sample preparation technologies already available to the analytical community…
In collaboration with scientists from Hangzhou Normal University, Central South University, and other international partners, we have reviewed the rapidly evolving landscape of sample preparation for polar metabolites in biological samples. From amino acids and nucleotides to sugar phosphates and CoA derivatives, we examine the strengths, limitations, and emerging trends of modern extraction technologies, including SPE, SPME, LPME, and electromembrane extraction (EME). The review provides practical guidance for selecting appropriate methodologies while highlighting opportunities for greener, more automated, and higher-performance workflows in metabolomics and bioanalysis...