Updates on current biomarkers in toxicology

The biomarkers domain needs to identify the most sensitive, accurate, unique marker and further validate it as indicators of chemicals that act upon biological systems. Biomarkers in toxicology furnish indications on the effects of toxicants upon a specific target, whether cell, organ, or systems and they can be biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility, or effect. As the organs upon toxicants are inducing complex damages (e.g., nervous system, cardiac, liver, renal, reproductive, immune system) one biomarker cannot characterize the complex effects and therefore panels of biomarkers comprising several domains could better characterize certain toxicological processes. In vitro models furbish a series of toxicology biomarkers that are, in further stages, tested in in vivo animal models that offer yet again new data in toxicology. Reducing the time/cost of drug development, along with reducing animal use in this domain has drove research to find alternatives to animal testing. Alternative testing that reduces in vivo analysis up to in silico toward organ/body-on-a-chip testing are receiving special recent attention