Advances in the development of the sample preparation techniques in lipidomics

Lipids play an important physiological role in living system. They are the major components of cellular membranes, in addition to participating in energy storage as well as signal recognition and transmission. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that disturbances in lipid metabolism are closely related to the development of some diseases. Lipid analysis is of great significance for understanding the mechanism and the process of diseases. Because of the matrix interference and low concentration of analytes, existing techniques require sample preparation steps to ensure good analytical performance. In the present study, sample preparation methods in lipidomics used in various fields are reviewed, including lipid extraction methods, such as liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase extraction, as well as the chemical derivatization techniques for different lipid categories. In addition, the development of the sample preparation in lipidomics is also prospected.