Abstract
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are nanometre-scale crystals, which have unique photophysical properties, such as size-dependent optical properties, high fluorescence quantum yields, and excellent stability against photobleaching. These properties enable QDs as the promising optical labels for the biological applications, such as multiplexed analysis of immunocomplexes or DNA hybridization processes, cell sorting and tracing, in vivo imaging and diagnostics in biomedicine. Meanwhile, QDs can be used as labels for the electrochemical detection of DNA or proteins. This article reviews the synthesis and toxicity of QDs and their optical and electrochemical bioanalytical applications. Especially the application of QDs in biomedicine such as delivering, cell targeting and imaging for cancer research, and in vivo photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer are briefly discussed.
Highlights
Quantum dots (QDs) as colloidal nanocrystalline semiconductors have unique photophysical properties due to quantum confinement effects
The large-surface area of QDs is beneficial to covalently link to biorecognition molecules, such as peptides, antibodies, nucleic acids or small-molecule ligands for further application as fluorescent probes (Figure 1). These properties of QDs herald a revolution from electronic materials science to biological applications [7]
This review mainly summarizes the development of synthesis, the surface modification and toxicity of QDs, and briefly focuses on the application developments of QDs in the biomedical field
Summary
Quantum dots (QDs) as colloidal nanocrystalline semiconductors have unique photophysical properties due to quantum confinement effects. They emit different wavelengths over a broad range of the light spectrum from visible to infrared, depending on their sizes and chemical compositions. The large-surface area of QDs is beneficial to covalently link to biorecognition molecules, such as peptides, antibodies, nucleic acids or small-molecule ligands for further application as fluorescent probes (Figure 1). These properties of QDs herald a revolution from electronic materials science to biological applications [7]. This review mainly summarizes the development of synthesis, the surface modification and toxicity of QDs, and briefly focuses on the application developments of QDs in the biomedical field
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