Quantum dots and other nanoparticles

Nanocrystals (quantum dots) and other nanoparticles (gold colloids, magnetic bars, nanobars, dendrimers and nanoshells) have been receiving a lot of attention recently with their unique properties for potential use in drug discovery, bioengineering and therapeutics.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting materials that are, in general, synthesized with II-VI or III-V column elements of the periodic table. They are neither atomic nor bulk semiconductors. Their properties originate from their physical size, which ranges from 10–100 Å in radius. Due to their bright fluorescence, narrow emission, broad UV excitation and high photostability [[4 and 5]], QDs have been adopted for in vitro bioimaging by many researchers as an alternative to organic based fluorophores [[4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10]]. Most recently, in vivo applications of these QDs have also been reported [[11, 12 and 13]].

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