About this Research Topic
Chemical safety has traditionally relied on animal models, however retrospective analysis on predictive results showed a high inconsistency when translated to human. In the case of local toxicity, skin and eye are main targets when, intentionally or accidentally, application of a substance can lead to several local adverse effects with distinct degree of severity and reversibility. Moreover, these toxic reactions imply many different cell types and tissues, mechanisms and cellular pathways.
Therefore, the development of non-animal models based on the intrinsic mechanism of action of compounds are time and cost saving. In this sense, significant research is taken place to develop novel non-animal approaches for chemical safety assessment.
To date, various assays related to irritation and corrosion as well as dermal sensitization and phototoxicity exists and, although these are valuable models, still lack from dynamic conditions that resemble physiological conditions. Technological advances in the field of tissue engineering and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have allowed obtaining human reconstructed tissues and organoids. More recently, microfluidic technology enables to recreate vascular networks in organ-on-a-chip models or interactions between various organs. Altogether, open opportunities to develop novel models to be used as toxicity predictors in hazard identification and risk assessment.
However, other methods directly not regarded as toxicity assays, as high-throughput screening (HTS) or “omics”, can help to characterize chemical biological activity and thus improving toxicity test.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to gather the latest progress of non-animal methods for hazard identification in studies of skin and eye toxicity. The Research Topic welcomes contribution that cover (but are not limited to):
• Mechanistically based models including biochemical, cellular and/or organotypic in vitro models
• Computer-based methods (in silico); chemical reactivity or physicochemical assays (in chemico)
• Generation of in vitro human vascularized 3D skin or eye model or organ -on-a-chip.
• Developments on new approach methodologies (NAMs) as high-throughput screening (HTS) methods.
•State of the art on different aspect of skin or eye toxicity studies (corrosion, irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, photoallergy).
Different article types can be submitted to the Research Topic, including original research, review, systematic review, mini review, perspective articles etc.
Topic editor Dr Maja Aleksic is employed by Unilever. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Therefore, the development of non-animal models based on the intrinsic mechanism of action of compounds are time and cost saving. In this sense, significant research is taken place to develop novel non-animal approaches for chemical safety assessment.
To date, various assays related to irritation and corrosion as well as dermal sensitization and phototoxicity exists and, although these are valuable models, still lack from dynamic conditions that resemble physiological conditions. Technological advances in the field of tissue engineering and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have allowed obtaining human reconstructed tissues and organoids. More recently, microfluidic technology enables to recreate vascular networks in organ-on-a-chip models or interactions between various organs. Altogether, open opportunities to develop novel models to be used as toxicity predictors in hazard identification and risk assessment.
However, other methods directly not regarded as toxicity assays, as high-throughput screening (HTS) or “omics”, can help to characterize chemical biological activity and thus improving toxicity test.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to gather the latest progress of non-animal methods for hazard identification in studies of skin and eye toxicity. The Research Topic welcomes contribution that cover (but are not limited to):
• Mechanistically based models including biochemical, cellular and/or organotypic in vitro models
• Computer-based methods (in silico); chemical reactivity or physicochemical assays (in chemico)
• Generation of in vitro human vascularized 3D skin or eye model or organ -on-a-chip.
• Developments on new approach methodologies (NAMs) as high-throughput screening (HTS) methods.
•State of the art on different aspect of skin or eye toxicity studies (corrosion, irritation, sensitization, phototoxicity, photoallergy).
Different article types can be submitted to the Research Topic, including original research, review, systematic review, mini review, perspective articles etc.
Topic editor Dr Maja Aleksic is employed by Unilever. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: Skin, eye, in vitro, in silico, in chemico, organ-on-a-chip, NAM, hazard identification, Toxicology
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
