title: Quantum dots as contrast agents for in vivo tumor imaging: progress and issues.
abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) have shown promise as imaging agents in cancer, heart disease, and gene therapy research. This review focuses on the design of QDs, and modification using peptides and proteins for mediated targeting of tissues for fluorescence imaging of tumors in vivo. Recent examples from the literature are used to illustrate the potential of QDs as effective imaging agents. The distribution and ultimate fate of QDs in vivo is considered, and considerations of designs that minimize potential toxicity are presented.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sensors Group, Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petryayeva
authors.forename: W Russ
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Algar
authors.forename: Ulrich J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Krull
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins