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Quantum Dots for Imaging and Its Safety

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Biomedical Applications and Toxicity of Nanomaterials

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Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a giant leap in the synthesis and studies of Quantum dots (QDs). With their remarkable photophysical properties, QDs have emerged as an essential material in material science research. QDs are multifaceted, with their applications ranging from optical to next-generation theranostics. In Biomedical research, visual analysis of cellular parameters plays a crucial role in understanding the mechanisms and cellular transport. Due to their high photostability and fluorescence intensity, they are inevitable in imaging applications. QDs can be used for long time imaging when compared to their conventional organic dyes. Moreover, they can be easily used for multiplex imaging that regular fluorescent dyes cannot achieve. QDs are extensively used for cellular and biomolecular imaging, tissue staining, and binding assays in vitro and tumor imaging and Deep tissue imaging in vivo. Various types of QDs with different elemental compositions are studied for their imaging applications. However, a lack of detailed understanding of their toxicity is still a significant concern. Hence, this chapter focuses on the various imaging applications of QDs and their potential safety issues.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to the Director and Head, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Trivandrum, for their support and for providing the infrastructure to carry out this work.

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  1. V. Akhil, K. B. Megha, X. Joseph, V. P. Sangeetha and P. V. Mohanan contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Trivandrum, Kerala, India

    Akhil,  Arathi, K. B. Megha, X. Joseph, V. P. Sangeetha & P. V. Mohanan

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  1. Akhil
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  2. Arathi
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  3. K. B. Megha
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  5. V. P. Sangeetha
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  1. Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

    P. V. Mohanan

  2. Department of Zoology, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India

    Sudha Kappalli

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Akhil, Arathi, Megha, K.B., Joseph, X., Sangeetha, V.P., Mohanan, P.V. (2023). Quantum Dots for Imaging and Its Safety. In: Mohanan, P.V., Kappalli, S. (eds) Biomedical Applications and Toxicity of Nanomaterials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7834-0_18

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