Quantum dot as probe for disease diagnosis and monitoring

Abstract

Semiconductor quantum dots (QD) possess unique optical and electric properties like size-tunable light emission, narrow emission range, high brightness and photostability. Recent research advances have minimized the toxicity of QDs and they are successfully used in in vitro and in vivo imaging. Encapsulation of QDs into polymeric nanoparticles and linking them with targeting ligands enabled the detection of tumors and cancer cells in vivo. QD-antibody conjugates were successfully used in monitoring and diagnosis of HIV and myocardial infarction. Application of near infrared (NIR) QDs was found to minimize the absorption and scattering of light by native tissues thus rendering them suitable in deep tissue analysis. Aggregation and endosomal sequestration of QDs pose major challenges for the effective delivery of QDs to the cell cytosol. Toxicity minimization and effective delivery strategies may further increase their suitability for utilization in disease diagnosis. New synthesis of QDs may provide new types of bioconjugates of QDs to biomolecules, which leads to a variety of applications to many challenged research areas. QDs with narrow emission wavelength ranges are very suitable for monitoring multiple cellular targets simultaneously, and still remain the best known probes for imaging as an alternative to traditional fluorophores in disease diagnosis.

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

“…In association with the development of imaging technologies to adroitly capture fluorescence within in vitro and in vivo tissues, quantum dots are fueled as potential nano‐bioprobe in biomedical technologies . Optical imaging has become an essential tool in modern biomedical diagnosis owing to high sensitivity, low cost, and shorter acquisition time for near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging . As most of the excitation photons are transmitted through the specimen, only the reflected excitatory photons reach the objective lens along with the emitted photons and thus the epifluorescence method provides a greater signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) .…”

Ex vivo detection of cadmium‐induced renal damage by using confocal Raman spectroscopy

“…However, these methods usually measure Cd content in whole piece of tissue, which could not indicate the distribution of Cd in cells or tissues clearly. Fluorescent probe has been applied in various field because of the high selectivity, high sensitivity and convenient detection . In this research, the Cd fluorescent probe was used initially for investigated Cd distribution in kidney tissue, and semi‐quantitative analysis of Cd probe fluorescent intensity in kidney was conducted.…”

Advanced Functional Nanomaterials for Theranostics

“…High photostability makes them suitable for long-term dynamic in vivo monitoring applications. [165, 166] QDs were introduced for mainstream biomedical applications nearly two decades ago. [167, 168] They remain as powerful tools for a various application including disease detection and single particle tracking.…”