Novel toxicology platform brings innovation and safety one step closer
The EU-funded TOXBOX(opens in new window) project is designing an advanced, plug-and-play toxicology platform that will change the way chemical safety is tested. Aligned with the EU’s ‘safe and sustainable by design’ framework, the platform will reduce reliance on animal testing, contribute to international safety standards, and enable the production of sustainable chemicals and materials that are safe for humans and the environment.
The way to faster and safer innovation
When creating new chemicals and materials, toxicity testing is an essential step needed to ensure their overall safety. However, traditional methods are costly, time-consuming, and frequently fail to provide a comprehensive view of their environmental and long-term impact. TOXBOX’s integrated web-based platform for comprehensive toxicity analysis will allow researchers to upload microscopy images and receive immediate AI-powered assessments of cellular responses. The all-in-one platform tests toxicity using organoid-on-chip models that mimic the physiology and functions of human organs such as the skin, lungs and liver and of the immune system. It also offers real-time, non-invasive sensing and monitoring. It tests environmental impact using zebrafish embryos combined with state-of-the-art data science. This information is then complemented by AI-driven in silico models to provide a complete picture of the long-term impact of the chemicals. “The ultimate objective,” reports a recent news item(opens in new window) posted on the TOXBOX website, “is developing a robust AI system that augments expert toxicological assessment, providing accessible, consistent analysis while enabling specialists to focus on complex cases requiring human expertise.” The aim is to make innovation and safety more easily achievable by all – chemical manufacturers seeking the next game changer, researchers in search of a smarter solution, and regulators striving to protect people’s health and the environment. “This work represents a paradigm shift toward democratized access to expert-level toxicological analysis. By combining machine learning expertise with toxicological domain knowledge, the TOXBOX project advances automated safety assessment capabilities, making toxicity evaluation more accessible and comprehensive for the broader research community.” In the first 18 months since its launch in January 2024, the project has achieved a number of important technical milestones. It has validated co-exposure protocols and toxicological assessments with selected materials and developed prototype chips for modular toxicity testing. It has also developed new microfluidic architectures in integrated chip designs for skin- and liver-on-a-chip systems as well as a transgenic zebrafish line and the organoid models. It has also published a new method for feeding-rate testing in daphnids and designed a preliminary computer-aided design model and interface of the full TOXBOX system. Other milestones reached alongside its technical achievements include collaborations with other EU-funded projects such as CheMatSustain, CHIASMA and SSbD4CheM. TOXBOX has also joined the Network for Safety and sustainability of Chemicals and materials(opens in new window), reinforcing its commitment to safe nanomaterials. Initial contact has also been made with the EU’s Joint Research Centre(opens in new window) to explore potential avenues for collaboration. A recently launched video(opens in new window) outlines the project’s objectives and expected impact. TOXBOX (Toxicology-testing platform integrating immunocompetent in vitro/ex vivo modules with real-time sensing and machine learning based in silico models for life cycle assessment and SSbD) ends in December 2027. For more information, please see: TOXBOX project website(opens in new window)
