Bioanalytical and Molecular Methods for Drug and Toxicant Exposure: From Targeted Quantification to Omics
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 44
Special Issue Editor
Interests: veterinary forensic analysis; medication misadventure of animal antibiotics; antimicrobial resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce a call for submissions to our Special Issue on “Bioanalytical and Molecular Methods for Drug and Toxicant Exposure: From Targeted Quantification to Omics”. This Special Issue aims to capture methodological and molecular advances that improve how exposure to drugs and toxicants is detected, quantified, and biologically interpreted across biomedical and veterinary settings. In particular, we welcome contributions that bridge robust targeted quantification (e.g., validated LC–MS/MS panels for known analytes) with broader omics- and biomarker-based strategies that characterize exposure signatures, mechanisms, and downstream effects.
We encourage submissions in, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Targeted Quantification by LC–MS/MS (Multi-Class Panels): Research articles describing the development, validation, and application of targeted LC–MS/MS methods for multi-class drug/toxicant panels (including metabolites) in complex biological matrices. Submissions are particularly welcome on multi-class panels for psychoactive substances in companion animals (e.g., dogs and cats), including confirmatory and quantitative workflows suitable for diagnostic and forensic contexts.
- Bioanalytical Method Validation and Quality Assurance: Manuscripts focusing on validation design and QA/QC practices (e.g., calibration models, selectivity, matrix effects, carryover, stability, reproducibility, measurement uncertainty, and inter-laboratory transferability) that strengthen the reliability and interpretability of exposure measurements.
- Innovative Sample Preparation and Matrix-Challenge Solutions: Studies introducing or optimizing sample preparation approaches (protein precipitation, SPE, QuEChERS adaptations, microextraction, or other clean-up/enrichment strategies) for difficult matrices such as whole blood, urine, liver, bile, gastric contents, or hair, with clear evaluation of matrix effects and recoveries.
- High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) and Non-Targeted Screening: Research exploring HRMS screening, suspect/non-target workflows, metabolite identification, and retrospective data analysis for unknown or emerging substances, including confirmatory strategies and reporting practices that support defensible identification.
- Omics and Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect: Manuscripts leveraging metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, or multi-omics integration to identify biomarkers of exposure and effect, including approaches that connect omics findings to targeted assays for verification/translation.
- Translational, Clinical, and Veterinary Applications (Including Forensic Contexts): Submissions applying bioanalytical and molecular exposure tools to real-world scenarios such as clinical toxicology, veterinary poisoning, medication misadventure, post-mortem investigations, and One Health-relevant exposure events, with emphasis on interpretation frameworks linking measured concentrations/biomarkers to outcomes.
We look forward to receiving your submissions and to the valuable discussions that they will undoubtedly inspire.
Dr. JeongWoo Kang
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- targeted quantification
- LC–MS/MS multi-class analysis
- psychoactive substances
- companion animal toxicology
- high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) screening
- omics biomarkers of exposure
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