A description of immunosorbents, which are solid-phase extraction sorbents based on molecular recognition using antibodies, is provided. The synthesis of immunosorbents for small molecules is discussed the main parameters governing their extraction. The high selectivity these reagents is demonstrated in a number of applications.

Introduction Despite advances in the sensitivity of analytical instrumentation for the end-point determination of analytes in environmental or biological samples, a pretreatment is usually required to extract and isolate the analytes of interest from complex matrices. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is one such sample preparation technique that has rapidly developed in recent years (1). However, with classic SPE sorbents, such as n-alkylsilicas or highly cross-linked copolymers, retention is based on hydrophobic interactions. This means that selectivity is often too low for trace analysis in complex matrices when interferences are present at high concentrations. There is, therefore, great interest in the development of highly selective sorbents that allow extraction, concentration and clean-up in a single step.

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