Current Trends in Targeted and Non-Targeted Metabolomics in Analytical Toxicology

About this Research Topic

Background

Analytical toxicology plays a critical role in the detection, identification and quantification of xenobiotics, drugs, and their metabolites in biological specimens, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of various fields, including analytical and clinical chemistry, pharmacology, and environmental health. As the landscape of drug misuse evolves, innovations in analytical methods have enhanced the reliability and scope of toxicological testing, emphasizing the need for precise communication among professionals, including clinicians, legal experts and law enforcement. The emergence of biomarkers has become increasingly vital for addressing the complexities introduced by a wider array of substances, with a focus on reliability, applicability, reproducibility and cost-effectiveness.

Metabolomics, as a high-throughput approach to analyzing small molecules in biological systems, offers significant potential in this context. By facilitating both targeted and untargeted analyses, metabolomics enables rapid screening of metabolites and identification of physiological changes that may arise from toxic exposure or drug interactions.

This article collection aims to showcase innovative metabolomic studies relevant to all domains of analytical toxicology—environmental, clinical, forensic, occupational and medicine. Furthermore, the integration of metabolomics into personalized medicine can advance our understanding of individual responses to xenobiotics, paving the way for tailored therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes.

Original research contributions are invited to metabolomics studies pertinent to all areas of analytical toxicology, metabolomics and personalized medicine in cell, animal and human models specifically studies related to cell physiology, metabolic physiology and mitochondrial research are invited to submit their original data to this Research Topic.

Keywords: Metabolomics, Forensic, Clinical, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Substance Misuse, Biomarkers discovery, Machine learning

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.

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