Surface Modified Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Probes for Biomolecule Recognition

The development of novel nanomaterial-based analytical methods for biological analysis in proteomics and clinical diagnosis has been making significant progress. In the long-lasting efforts to improve the detection sensitivity of analytical instruments, functional nanomaterials have been significantly applied as effective probes by integrating various analytical tools for bioanalysis. Among these nanomaterials, quantum dots (ODs) have been recently proved as highly potential materials as fluorescent sensors for biomolecules assays due to their high quantum yield, narrow and tunable emission spectrum and excellent photostability. In this review, we introduce the use of surface modified ODs as fluorescence probes for detecting proteins, peptides and other biomolecules based on fluorescence quenching and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).