Based on the recently published literature, this review provides an update of the most important features and application of formats and devices employed in solid phase extraction (SPE). Special attention was paid on new trapping media proposed in SPE prior the chromatography analysis, based on the use of nanostructured materials, including carbon nanomaterials, electrospun nanofibers, dendrimes and magnetic nanoparticles, molecular recognition sorbents, as aptamers, immunosorbents, molecular imprinted polymers, ion imprinting polymers, metal-organic frameworks and restricted access materials. Discussions on the present limitations as well as expected future trends of the new trapping media in sample preparation for the improvement of the analytical determinations were made. Moreover, application of SPE for the extraction of different kind of materials; such as biological, environmental, pharmaceutical and food samples was summarized. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.