Title: Quantum dots and their potential applications in cancer detection and therapy

Authors: Hirendranath Banerjee, Mukesh Verma

Addresses: Department of Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Elizabeth City State University, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 930, 1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA. ' Methods and Technologies Branch, Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

Abstract: Tools are needed which can distinguish healthy from high risk populations for the early diagnosis of cancer and development of cancer control strategies. Imaging tools which may analyse the cellular profiles are non-invasive tools suitable for epidemiologic screening purposes. Quantum dots (QDs) technology fulfils the requirements of non-invasive technologies and high-throughput. Optical properties of normal cells and cancer cells are different. QDs help identify cancerous tissues and cells and follow-up of the efficacy of treatment based on the optical properties of cells. Although QD technology is still in a formative phase, it is maturing at an extremely rapid pace. Semiconductor quantum dots and nanoparticles composed of metals, lipids or polymers have emerged with promising applications for early detection and therapy of cancer. Implications of QDs in the biomedical field, especially cancer, are discussed in this article.

Keywords: biomedical field; cancer detection; cellular profiles; early diagnosis; treatment efficacy; epidemiological screening; high risk populations; non-invasive tools; quantum dots; cancer therapy; cancer diagnosis; cancer control strategies; nanotechnology; nanoparticles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBNN.2011.038465

International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2011 Vol.2 No.1, pp.33 - 44

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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