Glyco-functionalised quantum dots and their progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Despite all major breakthroughs in recent years of research, we are still unsuccessful to effectively diagnose and treat cancer that has express and metastasizes. Thus, the development of a novel approach for cancer detection and treatment is crucial. Recent progress in Glyconanotechnology has allowed the use of glycans and lectins as bio-functional molecules for many biological and biomedical applications. With the known advantages of quantum dots (QDs) and versatility of carbohydrates and lectins, Glyco-functionalised QD is a new prospect in constructing biomedical imaging platform for cancer behaviour study as well as treatment. In this review, we aim to describe the current utilisation of Glyco-functionalised QDs as well as their future prospective to interpret and confront cancer.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

carbohydrate / leptin / glyco-functionalised QD / bioimaging / cancer diagnosis and treatment

References

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Acknowledgments

This research received no external funding. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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