Many researchers then assume that because QDs are toxic to cells, they must be toxic to humans. Cell culture experiments have shown that QDs undergo design-dependent intracellular localization and they can cause cytotoxicity by releasing free cadmium into solution and by generating free radical species.

Quantum dots are crystals of a fluorescent semiconductor material with a diameter of as few as 10 to 100 atoms (2-10 nm). They are used as labels for imaging molecules because of their very narrow fluorescence spectra, brightness and resistance to photobleaching.

Quantum dots (QDs) are man-made nanoscale crystals that that can transport electrons. When UV light hits these semiconducting nanoparticles, they can emit light of various colors. For instance, due to their particular electronic properties they can be used as active materials in single-electron transistors.

Quantum dots (QDs) with unique quantum confinement effect and electro-optical properties are attractive for biomedical applications. Toxic effects of traditional semiconductor QDs made of heavy metal ions have serious safety concerns for their undesired environmental or healthy impact.

Quantum dots (QD) are semiconductor particles with sizes of a few nm. Nanoparticles (NPs) are also very small structures but larger than QDs, usually ranging from 8 to 100 nanometers. Because of this, NPs exhibit behaviors between those bulk materials and atoms or molecules.

Currently, quantum dots are used for labeling live biological material in vitro and in vivo in animals (other than humans) for research purposes – they can be injected into cells or attached to proteins in order to track, label or identify specific biomolecules. …

Unfortunately, the heavy metal cadmium used in the production of many quantum dots is a health and environmental hazard. And cadmium and cadmium compounds have been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.