Forensic Bone Proteomics: New Biomarkers and Technologies for Postmortem Interval Estimation (Literature Review)

Bone tissue proteomics is a rapidly developing field in forensic medicine aimed at determining the postmortem interval (PMI). Unlike traditional methods, proteomics enables a quantitative and molecular-level investigation of changes in the protein composition of bones. Proteins with high resistance to degradation can serve as reliable PMI biomarkers, providing more accurate and objective results. Mass spectrometry techniques, combined with advanced bioinformatics approaches and machine learning, allow for a detailed analysis of protein degradation, identifying patterns of change depending on the time elapsed since death. However, various environmental factors, including humidity, temperature, soil composition, and microbial activity, can influence the preservation of bone proteins, necessitating the development of standardized analytical protocols. This review examines key methods of bone proteomic analysis, prospects for integrating proteomics with metabolomics and lipidomics, as well as the application of machine learning for PMI estimation. Further research in this field should focus on biomarker validation, methodological standardization, and their implementation in forensic practice. The development of forensic bone proteomics opens new opportunities, allowing for more precise data collection in complex forensic cases.