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Special Issue

Quantum Dots for Biophotonics

Guest editor:

Ken-Tye Yong, Ph.D.
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore 639798
Email:

Biophotonics is an expanding frontier of science that employs light for medical diagnostics and imaging, biosensing, laser tissue engineering, and light activated therapy. Biophotonics involves the study of light activated processes at both cellular and tissue levels. Quantum dots possess unique optical properties that make them powerful candidates as probes or carriers for in vitro and in vivo research and bioimaging applications. The surface of quantum dots can be engineered with functional biomolecules to selectively target specific sites in vitro and in vivo. For example, bioconjugated quantum dots have been used in targeted cell labeling, tissue imaging, and photosensitization for photodynamic therapy, in vivo tumor detection, and drug delivery. The flexibility and versatility of quantum dots may provide the keys to answer important biological questions and ultimatlely improving diagnostics and therapy of human diseases. A synergistic combination of quantum dots with biophotonics provides unprecedented opportunities for addressing many of the current challenges in disease diagnosis and therapy. The main objectives of this special issue are not only to highlight the development of QDs for biophotonics, but also to explore the challenges and opportunities we face while utilizing them for in vitro and in vivo imaging and sensing research. In this special issue, we invite original research, review and perspective articles that describe all aspects pertinent to biophotonic imaging and sensing with quantum dots. This special issue will provide an overview of state-of-the art findings for scientists working in the field of quantum dots for biophotonics. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

Synthesis and characterization of quantum dots formulation with unique physical, surface and multifunctional properties;
Quantum dots for optical and multimodal imaging;
Preparation of bioconjugated quantum dots for drug delivery and gene delivery;
Quantum dots for diagnostics and sensing applications;
Development of heavy-metals-free quantum dots for imaging and sensing;
Studies of the toxicity of quantum dots.

Manuscripts may be submitted directly to the guest editors or online at http://www.thno.org/ms/submit?subgroup=quantum, with the subject heading: “Quantum Dots Special Issue”.

Detailed formatting instructions, in particular, the formatting of references, can be found in http://www.thno.org/ms/author.

All inquiries should be sent to the guest editor(s) at the above email address.