Table 4.
Various quantum dots with properties making them useful for cancer imaging
| Quantum Dots | Properties | Applications | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duplex metal co-doped CQDs | Synergistic cancer treatment | Reduced tumor development and metastasis | [161] |
| CQDs—Quinic acid | Biocompatible | Synergic N-CQD, Quinic acid, and Gemcitabine demonstrated enhanced cancer cell cytotoxicity than free Gem | [162] |
| Black phosphorus QDs | Synergistic chemo-phototherapy and dual-modality cancer imaging | Dual-modality imaging-assisted cooperative therapy improved cancer therapeutic efficacy and patient survival rates. PDT effectiveness increased in a synchronous manner | [163] |
| Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) | Fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals, high photoluminescence, good quantum yield, stable emission | Conjugating with antibodies or other targeting molecules, coated with biocompatible materials, such as silica or polymers, to reduce toxicity, imaging agents for cancer | [164] |
| Indium Phosphide (InP) | High quantum yield, long florescence lifetime, high stability, tunable emission, potential toxicity | Functionalized with targeting molecules, such as antibodies or peptides, to selectively bind to cancer cells and enable imaging of tumors | [165] |
| Carbon Dots (C-dots) | Biocompatible, low toxicity, good solubility, stable emission, high quantum yield | Have drug delivery capabilities, functionalized with targeting molecules and/or drugs for selectively, used to target specific cancer cells expressing certain biomarkers or antigens | [166, 167] |
| Copper Indium Sulfide (CuInS2) | High stability, tunable emission from red to NIR, good biocompatibility, long lifetimes (100-nano s) | EPR effect to tag tumors, used as multi-modal imaging diagnostic tools, even in drug delivery and phototherapy | [168] |
| Zinc Oxide (ZnO) | Biocompatible, good quantum yield, stable emission, less toxic, but can generate ROS when exposed to light cause cellular damage and inflammation | Conjugated with targeting agents such as antibodies or peptides to selectively bind to cancer cells, used for image-guided surgery | [169] |
| Nitrogen, boron/nitrogen, and sulfur-doped graphene quantum dots (GQDs) | Biocompatible multifunctional platforms, water-soluble, show no cytotoxicity, increased chemotherapeutic efficacy | In vitro delivery of active agents, multicolor visible/near-IR fluorescence imaging, ratiometric spectral discrimination, and pH-sensing of cancerous environments | [170, 171] |
| Lead Sulfide (PbS) | High photoluminescence, good quantum yield, good stability, potentially toxic | Useful for in vivo imaging of tumors in animal models. Surface coating needed | [172] |