Near infrared quantum dots in biomedical applications: current status and future perspective

Abstract

To address the requirements of biomedical applications including biosensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery, fluorescent nanomaterials served as efficient tools in many cases. Among them, near-infrared quantum dots (NIR QDs) have been used as novel fluorescent labels for their binary advantages of both QDs and NIR light. In this review, through collecting references in recent 10 years, we have introduced basic structures and properties of NIR QDs and summarized the classification and the related synthetic methods. This review also highlights the functionalization and surface bioconjugation of NIR QDs, and their biomedical applications in biosensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle-Based Sensing Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging.

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Quasi‐Pyramidal CuInS2–ZnS Nanocrystals for Enhanced Near‐Infrared Targeted Fluorescent Imaging of Subcutaneous Melanoma

“…Inorganic I–III–VI based semiconducting nanocrystals (NCs) have been potentially investigated owing to their unique optoelectronic properties such as greater Stokes shift, broader emission tunability, and resistance to photobleaching with enhanced fluorescence lifetime for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, and biomedical applications . In particular, bioimaging is of specific interest that requires biocompatible, water‐soluble, high‐photoluminescence (PL) brightness, and robust NCs.…”

Biomimetic Synthesis of Ag2Se Quantum Dots with Enhanced Photothermal Properties and as “Gatekeepers” to Cap Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Chemo–Photothermal Therapy

“…[1] For the past few years, variously NIR quantum dots (QDs) have been reported, such as Group II-VI QDs, Group IV-VI QDs, and a few ternary quantum dots. [2] For bioimaging, emissionw avelength in the NIR region of these QDs can improve tissue penetration depth and reduceb ackground fluorescence. [3] However,t he biggest drawback is that most of NIR QDs involve extremely toxic elements (such as Pb, Cd), which greatlyl imit the application of NIR QDs in vivo.…”

Semiconductor Quantum Dots as Components of Photoactive Supramolecular Architectures

“…In order to address essential requirements for medical applications, such as deeper tissue penetration and biocompatibility, novel cadmium‐free QDs that can absorb near infrared light, such as CuInS 2 ‐ZnS, are being actively investigated as novel theranostic nanomaterials. [94]…”

“…[90] Nanohybrids based on CdSe or CdSeÀ ZnS QDs were also tested for combining together luminescence imaging and the release of the well-known antitumor drug cisplatin. [91] In order to address essential requirements for medical applications, such as deeper tissue penetration and biocompatibility, novel cadmium-free QDs that can absorb near infrared light, [92] such as CuInS 2 -ZnS, [93] are being actively investigated as novel theranostic nanomaterials. [94]…”