Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2011 Aug;19(7):475-86.
doi: 10.3109/1061186X.2010.526227. Epub 2010 Oct 22.

Fluorescence nanoparticles "quantum dots" as drug delivery system and their toxicity: a review

Affiliations
Review

Fluorescence nanoparticles "quantum dots" as drug delivery system and their toxicity: a review

Shirin Ghaderi et al. J Drug Target. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

Fluorescence nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs) are engineered nanoparticles (NP) that have shown great promise with potential for many biological and biomedical applications, especially in drug delivery/activation and cellular imaging. The use of nanotechnology in medicine directed to drug delivery is set to expand in the coming years. However, it is unclear whether QDs, which are defined as NPs rather than small molecules, can specifically and effectively deliver drugs to molecular targets at subcellular levels. When QDs are linked to suitable ligands that are site specific, it has been shown to be brighter and photostable when compared with organic dyes. Interestingly, pharmaceutical sciences are exploiting NPs to minimize toxicity and undesirable side effects of drugs. The unforeseen hazardous properties of the carrier NPs themselves have given rise to some concern in a clinical setting. The kind of hazards encountered with this new nanotechnology materials are complex compared with conventional limitations created by traditional delivery systems. The development of cadmium-derived QDs shows great potential for treatment and diagnosis of cancer and site-directed delivery by virtue of their size-tunable fluorescence and with highly customizable surface for directing their bioactivity and targeting. However, data regarding the pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies require further investigation and development, and it poses great difficulties to ascertain the risks associated with this new technology. Additionally, nanotechnology also displays yet another inherent risk for toxic cadmium, which will enter as a new form of hazard in the biomedical field. This review will look at cadmium-derived QDs and discuss their future and their possible toxicities in a disease situation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources