A mini review on selenium quantum dots: synthesis and biomedical applications

Yanhua Huang; Guangming Lu; Li Zhou

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2023.1332993

A mini review on selenium quantum dots: synthesis and biomedical applications

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 Dec 21:11:1332993. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1332993. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yanhua Huang¹, Guangming Lu¹, Li Zhou¹

Affiliation

¹ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Optical and Electronic Materials and Devices, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomedical Polymer Materials, and College of Materials Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China.

Abstract

In recent years, the demand for advanced biomedical nanomaterials has seen a noticeable surge. Among the essential trace elements in the human body, selenium has gained recognition for its anti-cancer, antioxidant, and immune regulatory properties. However, traditional selenium-based semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are often comprised of heavy metal elements that tend to be toxic, thereby limiting their usage in biomedical applications. Fortunately, the advent of elemental selenium quantum dots (SeQDs), a new kind of fluorescent nanomaterial with unique physicochemical properties, has provided a solution to this problem. These SeQDs are known for their low toxicity and good biocompatibility, making them a promising candidate for biomedical applications. In this mini-review, we delve into the synthesis methods of fluorescent SeQDs and the latest progress in their applications in bioimaging, biosensing, and diagnosis treatment. Finally, we identify the major challenges and future prospects in the field of SeQDs.

Keywords: bioimaging; biosensing; diagnosis; fluorescence; selenium quantum dots.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U21A2097), Guangxi Science and Technology Base and Talent Project (No. AA23026001), Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (No. 2017GXNSFFA198002), and Scientific Research and Technological Development Plan of Guilin (No. 20220103-2).