Theranostics applications of quantum dots in regenerative medicine, cancer medicine, and infectious diseases

Quantum dots (QDs) have attracted attention for their application and commercialization in all industrial fields, including communications, displays, and solar cells, due to their excellent optical properties based on the quantum size effect. In recent years, the development of QDs that do not contain cadmium which is toxic to cells and living organisms, has progressed, and they have attracted considerable attention in the bio-imaging field for targeting molecules and cells. Furthermore, recently, the need for diagnostics and treatment at the single molecule and single cell level in the medical field has been increasing, and the application of QDs in the medical field is also accelerating. Therefore, this paper outlines the frontiers of diagnostic and therapeutic applications (theranostics) of QDs, especially in advanced medical fields such as regenerative medicine, oncology, and infectious diseases. & COPY; 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

Quantum dots (QDs) have been widely studied for their excellent optical properties based on the quantum size effect, and have found applications and commercialization in various industrial fields such as communications, displays, and solar cells. Recent advances in QDs that do not contain toxic cadmium have attracted attention in the bio-imaging field. Additionally, the increasing demand for diagnostics and treatment at the single molecule and single cell level in the medical field has accelerated the application of QDs, especially in advanced areas like regenerative medicine, oncology, and infectious diseases.