Quantum dots (QDs) have established themselves as influential fluorescent probes, in particular for long term, multiplexed imaging and detection. QD-labeled drug nanocarriers, QD-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) method for drug release study as well as the expansion of multifunctional nanomedicines. Multicolor optical coding for biological assays has been achieved by embedding different-sized quantum dots (zinc sulfide–capped cadmium selenide nanocrystals) into polymeric micro beads at precisely controlled ratios. Their novel optical properties render these highly luminescent quantum dots (QDs) ideal fluorophores for wavelength-and-intensity multiplexing. DNA hybridization studies demonstrate that the coding and target signals can be simultaneously read at the single-bead level. This spectral coding technology is expected to open new opportunities in gene expression studies, high throughput screening, and medical diagnostics. The recently developed QDs labeling technique have facilitated the study of drug delivery on the level of living cells. Moreover, based fluorescence imaging system, multifunctional nanocomplex integrated targeting, imaging and therapeutic functionalities have become effective materials for synchronous cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances of QDs in the research of drug delivery system from the following aspects: surface modification strategies of QDs for drug delivery, and as drug nanocarriers.
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