Antibody-Based Alternatives to Animal Testing for Toxin Detection and Antitoxin Evaluation

Seo-Hyuk Chang¹Jieun Jang^1,2Wonjun Yang¹Nam-Kyung Lee¹Seoyeon Choi^3,4Hyo- Il Jung^4,5Wantae Kim⁶Boksik Cha^7,8Sung-Jin Yoon^10,9*Jiyoon Noh^10,11*Jangwook Lee^1,12*

• ¹Biotherapeutics Translational Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
• ²Department of Biomolecular Science, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Bioscience,, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejoen, Republic of Korea
• ³School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seodaemungu, Republic of Korea
• ⁴TheDABOM Inc, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• ⁵School of Mechanical Engineering & Department of Integrated Medicine, Yonsei University, Seodaemungu, Republic of Korea
• ⁶Department of Life Science, University of Seoul, Dongdaemungu, Republic of Korea
• ⁷New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, Republic of Korea
• ⁸Department of Physiology, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
• ⁹Environmental Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
• ¹⁰Department of Functional Genomics, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejoen, Republic of Korea
• ¹¹Aging Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
• ¹²Department of Biomolecular Science, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejoen, Republic of Korea

Animal experiments have long played a central role in biomedical research and toxicology, yet their limitations in translational accuracy and ethical concerns have intensified the demand for reliable alternatives. Antibody-based technologies are versatile tools used to develop non-animal testing methods capable of detecting toxins and evaluating antitoxins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and lateral flow assays, among other techniques, have demonstrated high specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility and are useful in diagnostics, therapeutic development, and as platforms to replace traditional animal assays. Recent developments in in vitro systems, including organoids and microphysiological systems, as well as the integration of AI-based in silico models, offer promising directions. Standardization and regulatory acceptance remain key challenges. A coordinated approach can facilitate the development of antibody-based systems to fulfill the goal of the 3Rs.