Recent advances in magnetic nanomaterials for improving analytical processes

The recent advances involving the use of magnetic nanomaterials for improving different steps of analytical processes were revised. Magnetic nanomaterials are unique tools for the simplification of the sample preparation working under a solid phase (micro)extraction format, in order to provide the appropriated selectivity (clean-up) and sensitivity (preconcentration) of many new analytical methods, or improving this step in already existing ones. In addition, magnetic nanomaterials can play a key role for the separation processes (chromatographic or electrophoretic), in which some analytical methods are based. The third interesting incidence of magnetic nanomaterials are in the detection step, showing new advantageous possibilities. All these aspects are revised in this article.