title: Biomedical and biological applications of quantum dots.
abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) as colloidal nanocrystalline semiconductors have exceptional photophysical properties, due to their quantum confinement effects. Depending on their sizes and chemical compositions, QDs emit different wavelengths over a broad range of the light spectrum, from visible to infrared. QDs are typically extensively used for optical applications due to their high extinction coefficient. This article reviews biomedical applications of QDs, especially the application of QDs in cell targeting, delivery, diagnostics, cancer therapy, and imaging for cancer research.
authors.affiliation: a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.|d Department of Medical Nanotechnology , Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.affiliation: a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Tayebeh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kafshdooz
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medical Nanotechnology , Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhtiary
authors.affiliation: a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikzamir
authors.affiliation: a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikzamir
authors.affiliation: a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikzamir
authors.affiliation: e Amol Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari , Iran.
authors.forename: Mozhdeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadian
authors.affiliation: a Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.|b Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.|c Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.|d Department of Medical Nanotechnology , Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbarzadeh
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*
keywords: biomedical applications; cancer therapy; cell targeting; diagnostics; quantum dots