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The rise of non-toxic quantum dots: How they are a game-changer in cancer treatment?
In the past few decades, the emergence of the concept of quantum dots (QDs) has brought revolutionary changes to many scientific and technological fields. These semiconductor nanoparticles, which are less than 10 nanometers in diameter, have unique optical properties, especially in terms of light absorption and photoluminescence. Most notably, the fluorescence emission peak of quantum dots can be tuned by varying their diameter. The quantum dots currently on the market are mainly based on the heavy metals in question, such as cadmium (Cd). Therefore, the potential toxicity of these quantum dots in the biological environment has attracted widespread attention.
Over time, many researchers have focused on developing cadmium-free quantum dots (CFQDs) to overcome the toxicity issues of traditional quantum dots.
Non-toxic quantum dots show superior biocompatibility, dramatically changing the possibilities of tumor therapy and bioimaging. Novel nontoxic quantum dots such as doped ZnS/ZnSe quantum dots, graphene quantum dots, and silicon quantum dots have shown low toxicity and good stability in in vitro and in vivo models. The flexibility of these quantum dots allows them to be combined with other agents, making multimodal imaging possible.
Researchers are using these nontoxic quantum dots as nanoplatforms for noninvasive treatment and diagnosis (known as theranostics).
For example, quantum dots functionalized with DNA/peptides have shown great potential in imaging target cells and tissues, and monitoring drug delivery. Through various techniques such as confocal/multiphoton microscopy and CARS imaging, non-toxic quantum dots as stable fluorescent labels enable researchers to observe cell and tissue structures with higher resolution.
This not only improves the accuracy of biological imaging, but also makes drug release and imaging observation seamlessly connected. With the development of these non-toxic quantum dots, there is no need to worry about the harm of toxic substances such as cadmium ions to biological systems during treatment.
Specific applications of non-toxic quantum dots
The practical applications of non-toxic quantum dots are gradually expanding, showing their remarkable potential in fields other than biomedicine. Zinc-sulfur (ZnS)-based quantum dots can be used to detect toxic food toxins such as African swine fever, which causes extreme damage. Non-toxic quantum dots can even be used in industrial wastewater treatment, demonstrating their value in the field of environmental protection.
Using non-toxic quantum dots can solve some of the most pressing problems facing humanity, including environmental pollution and disease treatment.
For example, indium-based quantum dots such as CuInS2 have shown excellent performance in biomarkers and can be combined with the anticancer drug doxorubicin to release therapeutic agents and perform cell imaging monitoring. This dual strategy allows the medical community to more precisely manipulate cancer treatment.
Another option is silicon quantum dots, which are used in a variety of photonics and biological applications, including photovoltaics and biosensing. The stability of silicon quantum dots enables them to provide good luminescence performance in various chemical environments, which is crucial in chemical detection.
Future Outlook
Current research shows that non-toxic quantum dots have the potential to play a key role in future cancer diagnosis and treatment. From releasing painkillers to helping units regularly observe changes in cancer cells, non-toxic quantum dots are not only about drug delivery, but also have diverse multimodal imaging capabilities, which will completely change the rules of the game in cancer treatment.
As technology advances, we have reason to believe that the application of non-toxic quantum dots will only become more common and mature over time.
However, the progress of non-toxic quantum dots still faces many challenges. We need to continue to explore and understand their behavior and long-term effects in vivo to ensure that they can fundamentally change the status quo of cancer treatment. So, how much of a surprise will non-toxic quantum dots bring in the field of cancer treatment in the future?
