Table 2 . Well-known targeting molecules used for QDs modification in cancer monitoring .
| Type of QD | Target molecule | Conjugation/modification method | Cell type | References |
| CdSe/ZnCdS (cysteine) | GPI/cRGD | NHS-EDC reaction | Prostate cancer cells | 49 |
|
CdSe/CdS/ZnS (N-(2-aminoethyl)-6, 8-dimercaptooctanamide, amine-DHLA) |
Hyaluronic acid | Electrostatic interaction | HeLa cells | 50 |
| CdTe/CdS (-COOH) | Carbohydrate | NHS-EDC reaction | HeLa (intracellular) | 51 |
| QDs 605,655,705 (-COOH) | MUC-1, AS1411, TTA1 | EDC reaction | PC-3, NPA, HeLa cells | 52 |
| CdSe (-COOH) | Lectin | NHS-EDC reaction | Leukemia cells | 53 |
| ITK QD 525/655 (NH2-PEG) | Dendrotoxin-1 (DTX-1) | N-succinimidyl iodoacetate and 2-iminothiolane reaction | C6 glioma cells | 54 |
| CdSe/ZnSe (-COOH) | β-CD-L-Arg | Electrostatic interaction | ECV304 cells | 55 |