title: Quantum dot surface chemistry and functionalization for cell targeting and imaging.
abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) are highly fluorescent nanoscale crystals with size-dependent emission spectra. Due to their excellent photophysical properties, QDs are a promising alternative to organic fluorescent dyes and fluorescent proteins for cell targeting, imaging, and drug delivery. For biomedical applications, QDs should be chemically modified to be stable in aqueous solutions and tagged with the recognition molecules or drugs. Here, we review surface modification approaches to, and strategies for, conjugation of bioactive molecules with QDs. There are a variety of methods of QD surface modification and QD incorporation into larger delivery systems that yield fluorescent nanocarriers from 10 nm to several micrometers. Conjugates of QDs with peptides, proteins, antibodies, oligonucleotides, and small molecules have been used for fluorescent targeting, tracking, and imaging both in vitro and in vivo. Due to an extremely high stability to photobleaching, QDs were used for long-term visualization. QD applications pave the way for new generations of ultrasensitive detection, diagnostic systems, as well as drug delivery approaches, combining accurate targeting, delivery, and imaging in a single assay.
authors.affiliation: †Laboratory of Nano-Bioengineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), 31 Kashirskoe sh., 115409 Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bilan
authors.affiliation: ‡DNA repair group, UFIP, CNRS UMR6286, Univertité de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.affiliation: †Laboratory of Nano-Bioengineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), 31 Kashirskoe sh., 115409 Moscow, Russian Federation.|§Laboratoire de Recherche en Nanosciences, EA4682-LRN, 51 rue Cognacq Jay, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nabiev
authors.affiliation: †Laboratory of Nano-Bioengineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), 31 Kashirskoe sh., 115409 Moscow, Russian Federation.|§Laboratoire de Recherche en Nanosciences, EA4682-LRN, 51 rue Cognacq Jay, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France.
authors.forename: Alyona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sukhanova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D015335:Molecular Probes; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D010455:Peptides