Quantum dots in biological and biomedical research: Recent progress and present challenges

The marriage of nanomaterials with biology has produced a new generation of technologies that can profoundly impact biological and biomedical research. Quantum dots (Qdots) are an archetype for this hybrid research area and have gained popularity and interest from diverse research communities because of their unique and tunable optical properties. In this Review, we will describe their history and development, optical and electronic properties, and applications in biology and medicine. A critical evaluation of barriers impacting current Qdot technologies will be discussed and insights into the future outlook of the field will be explored.