title: Quantum Dots and their Potential Role in Cancer Theranostics.
abstract: The emergence of cancer nanomedicine is the result of fruitful advances in the fields of nanotechnology, bioimaging, formulation development, and molecular biology. Quantum dots (QDs) are the luminescent nanocrystals (NCs) that provide a multifunctional platform for imaging the biosystems following controlled delivery of therapeutic drugs, proteins, peptides, oligonucleotides, and genes. These engineered fluorescent probes with integrated imaging and carrier functionalities have become excellent tools for molecular diagnostics and delivery of therapeutics molecules. Flexible surface chemistry, unique optical properties, high sensitivity, and multiplexing capabilities of QDs certainly make them a most promising tool for personalized medicine. This review focuses on state-of-art advances in synthesizing QDs and highlights the approaches used for functionalization of QDs with desired ligands for targeted carriage to specific sites. Discussed is the role of QDs in antitumor therapy through drug delivery and gene delivery and the recently emerged photodynamic therapy (PDT). We also endeavor to critically address the major impediments in the clinical development of these multifunctional nanoplatforms, with a special focus on plausible advancements for the near future.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advanced Study in Physics, Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advanced Study in Physics, Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India.
authors.forename: Gurvir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC Centre of Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160 014, India.
authors.forename: Rajneet Kaur
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC Centre of Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160 014, India; UGC Centre of Excellence in Applications of Nanomaterials, Nanoparticles & Nanocomposites (Biomedical Sciences).
authors.forename: Bhupinder
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes