Use of the Semiconductor Nanotechnologies “Quantum Dots” for in vivo Cancer Imaging

Title: Use of the Semiconductor Nanotechnologies “Quantum Dots” for in vivo Cancer Imaging

Volume: 4 Issue: 3

Author(s): Monica Ciarlo, Patrizia Russo, Alfredo Cesario, Sara Ramella, Gabriella Baio, Carlo E. Neumaier and Laura Paleari

Affiliation:

Keywords: Quantum dots, in vivo imaging, cancer

Abstract: Non-invasive in vivo imaging offers great potential to facilitate translational drug development research at the animal testing phase. The emerging luminescent nanoparticles or quantum dots provide a new type of biological agents that can improve these applications. The advantages of luminescent nanoparticles for biological applications include their high quantum yield, color availability, good photo-stability, large surface-to-volume ratio, surface functionality, and small size. These properties could improve the sensitivity of biological detection and imaging by at least 10- to 100-fold and make them an exceptional tool for live-cell imaging. In this review patents on applications of semiconductor quantum dots for in vivo imaging are discussed.

Cite this article as:

Ciarlo Monica, Russo Patrizia, Cesario Alfredo, Ramella Sara, Baio Gabriella, Neumaier E. Carlo and Paleari Laura, Use of the Semiconductor Nanotechnologies “Quantum Dots” for in vivo Cancer Imaging, Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery 2009; 4 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157489209789206841