Quantum Dots in Imaging, Diagnosis, and Targeted Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells

Abstract

Cancer is a global threat to human life. Early cancer detection and treatment increase the patient’s chance of survival and reduce pain and expenses. Recently, nanotechnology has shown great promise in cancer diagnosis and treatment via targeted drug delivery. Quantum dots (QDs) are a recently discovered type of nanoparticle; they have attracted a great deal of scientific attention because of their potential use in early cancer diagnosis and treatment. QDs are a kind of fluorescent nanoparticle with broad adsorption spectra, narrow tunable emission spectra, high photostability, and a large surface-to-volume ratio. These qualities make them suitable for simultaneous cell imaging and targeted drug delivery. As a result of their small size (below 10 nm), they can penetrate cancer cells, and their narrow emission bands make high-resolution imaging possible. In this chapter, we will discuss QDs’ key features in terms of their relevance to targeted drug delivery, imaging, and biomarker detection for cancer treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis.