Vol. 2, Issue 12 (2014)

Author(s):
Sushant Tope, Shrikant Saudagar, Niwedita Kale, Sagar khambayat, kiran bhise

Abstract:
Quantum dots (QDs) are luminescent Nanocrystals with rich surface chemistry and unique optical properties that make them useful as probes or carriers for traceable targeted delivery and therapy applications. QDs have proven themselves as fluorescent probes, especially for long-term, multiplexed, and quantitative imaging and detection. QDs are nanoscale semiconductor crystals ranging typically between 1-10 nanometers and have capacity to glow or fluorescence brightly when excited by a light source such as a laser QDs are tiny bits of microscopic metal, thousand times smaller than width of a hair or semiconductor boxes such as cadmium selenide-zinc sulphide. The nature of this technology makes it suitable for application such as in vivo imaging including live cell and whole animal imaging, blood cancer assay, cancer detection and treatment. Multiplexed analysis such as DNA detection and cell sorting and tracking. Recent progress in the surface chemistry of quantum dots expanded their use in biological applications, reduced their cytotoxicity and rendered quantum dots a powerful tool for the investigation of distinct cellular processes, like uptake, receptor trafficking and intracellular delivery. QDs are luminescent Nanocrystals with rich surface chemistry and unique optical properties that make them useful as probes or carriers for traceable targeted delivery and therapy applications. QDs can be functionalized to target specific cells or tissues by conjugating them with targeting ligands. Recent advancement in making biocompatible QD formulations has made these Nanocrystals suitable for in vivo applications. QDs can be used as labels for the electrochemical detection of DNA or proteins.