Advances in applications of metal-organic frameworks for selective solid-phase extraction and chromatographic separation of active pharmaceutical ingredients

• An overview focuses on the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the application of MOFs for selective extraction, enrichment, and chromatographic separation of APIs from 2020 to 2024. • It discussed the tailored design of MOFs to enhance selectivity and efficiency in separation and extraction for active pharmaceutical ingredients. • It highlighted the potential development of MOFs in liquid-phase applications, particularly for APIs derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) constitute a fundamental component in the development and clinical application of pharmaceuticals, thereby playing an indispensable and pivotal role within the realm of biomedicine. In current research, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered considerable attention for studying APIs, serving as effective adsorbents for the extraction of APIs or as stationary phases for their separation. Notably, MOFs composites have significantly enhanced the enrichment and selectivity for APIs by modifying their size, micropore structure, surface characteristics, and charge. The mechanisms underlying these improvements include hydrogen bonding, π-stacking interactions, electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrophilic interactions. This comprehensive review focuses on the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the application of MOFs for selective extraction, enrichment, and chromatographic separation of APIs within solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction, and chromatographic stationary phases spanning the period from 2020 to 2024. Additionally, the review highlights the potential development of MOFs in sample preparation chromatographic separation for application, particularly for APIs derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), providing valuable insights into the research and development of nanomaterials such as MOFs in using APIs.