Abstract:

Quantum dots（QDs），as fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles，have become one of the fast growing research areas in nanotechnology. With the advances in QD technology，such as bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and smaller size non-Cd based QDs preparation，it is likely that QDs will show even more potential in biomedical applications. This review begins with a brief introduction on the basic concept and properties of QDs followed by a detailed discussion for two different preparation strategies of QDs in organic solvents and aqueous solution. The advantages and drawbacks of these approaches are analyzed and compared，and their applications in biomedical research（including protein and nucleic acid，components detecting，fluorescent coding and cell marking）are reviewed. Existing problems and future research prospects are also presented.