Quantum Dots in Drug Delivery: The Artificial Atom

Drug delivery is the process of administering a pharmaceutical compound to achieve a therapeutic effect in humans or animals. Quantum dots (QDs), nano-sized semiconductors, are one of the most important materials that create a bridge between nanotechnology, and drug assay. Large-scale particles in drug delivery suffer from some major drawbacks. Thus arises the need for quantum dots. The following properties of quantum dots (especially carbon-based quantum dots) makes them promising candidates for drug delivery; their great aqueous stability, ability to cross cell membranes easily, high specific surface area which provides multiple attachment sites for drug targeting. Graphene quantum dots can load drugs through hydrophobic or noncovalent pi-pi stacking interactions or hydrogen bonding.