Quantum Dots: Targeted and Traceable Drug Delivery System Saravanan Vignesh, Tippavajhala Vamshi Krishna* Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India. *Corresponding Author E-mail: krissrcm@gmail.com; vamshi.krishna@manipal.edu
Online Published on 06 March, 2023. Abstract “Quantum dots (QD’s) are semiconductor crystals of nanometre dimensions with distinctive conductive properties determined by its size”. If the semiconductor particle area unit is created sufficiently small, quantum effects get to play. When UV light hits these conductive nanoparticles, they will emit light of varied colors and these colors will be varied by dominant the dimensions of nanoparticles. Traditional imaging models like MRI andPET are less sensitive compared to optical imaging done using QD’s which is significantly cheaper, cost-effective and shortens the time required for drug development. Earlier QD’s were cadmium based which provides it with unique photonic properties and photonic stability but because of its toxicity, it is replaced with alternative materials like germanium, silicon and carbon. The structure of QD’s contains a core that is a structural scaffold and imaging distinction agent. Small hydrophobic molecules can be embedded in between the inorganic core and amphiphilic polymer coating layer, hydrophilic agents can be immobilized in the hydrophilic end of the amphiphilic polymer through covalent and non-covalent bonds. This kind of nanostructures acts as a magic bullet that not solely identifies, binds to the targeted unhealthy cells however additionally emits detectable signals that help in the real-time tracking. Top Keywords Quantum dots, Semiconductor crystals, Targeted drug delivery, Optical imaging. Top |