Exploring potential of quantum dots as dual modality for cancer therapy and diagnosis

While cancer is one of the most studied disorders in humans; a complete cure or prognosis has not yet been developed. Nearly 40% of the current population will suffer from this deadly disease. Scientists all across the globe strive to innovate new technologies and therapies to treat this disease. However, these innovations are often short-lived owing to the dynamic genetic mutations of cancer cells and the need to overcome eventual cancer cell/tumor resistance. Therefore, there is an immense need for innovation and to build on the current treatment options to develop a near perfect system to help tackle cancer. In this article, we review a drug delivery system in the form of Quantum Dots (QDs), which are nano-sized fluorescent particles, capable of diagnosing and delivering molecules to cancer cells in-vivo. In this review, we highlight different types of QDs, characterization methods, and how microfluidics can be used as a tool to improve their functionality. We then focus on the applications of QDs as diagnostics, drug delivery systems, or a tool to study biological phenomena. Finally, we discuss the current limitations of QDs and future challenges.