Applications of Fluorescent Quantum Dots for Reproductive Medicine and Disease Detection

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms associated with fertility and disease management in animals remains challenging. Continuing advances in nanotechnology provide new tools and alternative approaches for the investigation of these mechanisms. Fluorescent quantum dot nanoparticles, for example, have unique physicochemical properties, which allow for in vivo and in vitro imaging in various areas of life sciences. Traditional quantum dots contain heavy metal semiconductor cores, which have raised concern over their potential for toxicity. The majority of available quantum dots today prevent heavy metal release with additional chemical and polymer layers for safe water solubility. In this chapter, the most widely used quantum dots made of cadmium selenide, which possess great potential for real-time imaging in disease detection and reproductive medicine, are discussed.

Potential of Nanocarrier-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Brain Targeting: A Current Review of Literature

“…QDs were discovered in the 1980s by Alexie Ekimov, having fluorescence (20 times brighter) than ordinary fluorescent materials. 120 Owing to their remarkable property, including large absorption spectra, high photobleaching and stability, they are considered ideal candidates for diagnosis, sensing, drug delivery and targeting applications. The emission spectra of QDs are adjustable from 450 to 1800 nm by varying the shape, size, and composition.…”

ZAIS-based colloidal QDs as fluorescent labels for theranostics: physical properties, biodistribution and biocompatibility

“…It should be noted that the problems of QDs biodistribution are currently being studied extensively, in particular, according to the publications of foreign authors, their use shows a positive result as cell markers for imaging tumors of different tissues [31][32][33][34][35][36]. In this case, the main target organs, in which QDs accumulate, are liver, kidneys and spleen [37][38][39], as well as lungs [40], skin, gastrointestinal tract and bladder [41], besides these QDs were found in lymph nodes [42]. Our data suggest that ZAIS QDs have a significant tropism to the liver, as evidenced by fluorescence intensity increase within 1 to 24 hours after intravenous administration.…”

The Current Trends in Using Nanoparticles, Liposomes, and Exosomes for Semen Cryopreservation

“…NPs are molecules with <100 nm diameter and can be applied for different bioapplications including reproductive biology because they have unique physical and chemical properties [60,66].…”