A Review of Microdialysis Sampling Systems

The most important aspects of microdialysis are a theoretical understanding of the process, the microdialysis membrane and the design of the microdialysis probe including the inner cannula dimensions. Several efforts have been made to theoretically account for the processes that take place during microdialysis. These have been employed to develop optimal sampling conditions so as to increase the applicability of the technique for in situ sampling and as a sample clean-up technique prior to chromatography. On the occasion of Prof. Lo Gorton’s 60th birthday, this review highlights the challenge presented by low analyte recoveries that is the major bottleneck in the wider use of microdialysis. The discussion concludes by considering how to increase analyte recovery through a multiple probe approach or by an increase in recovery in the light of the advantages of nanotechnology. Both approaches could impact on the use of microdialysis as a sampling and sample clean-up technique for liquid chromatography.