Role of quantum dots in pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, and its application in drug delivery

Quantum dots (QDs), nano-sized semiconductors, are one of the most important materials that create a bridge between nanotechnology, and drug assay. Their unique photoluminescence and electronic properties including broad and continuous absorption spectra, narrow emission spectra from visible to near-infrared wavelengths, long light lasting, high brightness make them as some suitable probe materials in (bio)sensing or immunosensing platform. Quantum dots (QDs) are considered efficient fluorescent labels used in a drug delivery system for monitoring the metabolism process of drugs in the body owing to the unique physicochemical characteristics. They can also be developed for a variety of biomedical applications, such as disease detection, and fluorescent assays for drug discovery. This paper reviews the physical and chemical properties of QDs, their synthesis methods, surface modification and bioconjugation as well as some interesting examples of their recent applications in analytical chemistry, drug delivery, biosensing and immunoassay. •The synthesis methods of QDs affect their physicochemical properties.•Multifunctional QDs used for targeting tumor cells.•The application of QDs in biomedical fields for diagnostics and drug delivery.•QDs a great candidate for use as an anticancer drug carrier.•In vitro and in vivo bioimaging using QDs.