Noel Kevin Jordan, Umashankar Marakanam S, Narayanasamy Damodharan
Department of Pharmaceutics, SRM College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Aug 26;16(8):e67869. doi: 10.7759/cureus.67869. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Quantum dots (QDs), also known as quantum nanodots or colloidal nanocrystals, possess unique visual and electrical properties that have enabled various applications in biomedicine, particularly in drug delivery. Quantum dots offer significant advantages, such as a high surface area for drug attachment, the ability to modify solubility and drug release patterns, and the potential for targeted delivery. This review covers various aspects of QD research, including their synthesis, properties, and the challenges associated with their use. Key challenges include concerns about QD toxicity, stability, and environmental impact. Additionally, the article discusses using quantum dot-Förster resonance energy transfer (QD-FRET) to study in vivo drug release kinetics. This capability is essential for evaluating the performance of QDs as drug carriers and understanding their interactions within biological systems. In summary, while QDs present promising opportunities for advancing drug delivery mechanisms, ongoing research is necessary to mitigate toxicity concerns and enhance their biocompatibility, paving the way for their clinical application in targeted therapies.
量子点(QDs),也被称为量子纳米点或胶体纳米晶体,具有独特的光学和电学性质,使其在生物医学领域,尤其是药物递送方面有了多种应用。量子点具有显著优势,例如药物附着的高表面积、改变溶解度和药物释放模式的能力以及靶向递送的潜力。本综述涵盖了量子点研究的各个方面,包括其合成、性质以及使用过程中相关的挑战。关键挑战包括对量子点毒性、稳定性和环境影响的担忧。此外,本文还讨论了利用量子点-福斯特共振能量转移(QD-FRET)来研究体内药物释放动力学。这种能力对于评估量子点作为药物载体的性能以及理解它们在生物系统中的相互作用至关重要。总之,虽然量子点为推进药物递送机制提供了有前景的机会,但仍需持续研究以减轻毒性担忧并增强其生物相容性,为其在靶向治疗中的临床应用铺平道路。