Quantum Dots for Tumor Imaging
If you happen to own one of those new Samsung SUHD televisions, you know the current state of art in vivid color electronics. That quality derives from alloys of elements that fluoresce when exposed to blue light. Quantum dots are these pairs of elements. This piece describes how micro-sized quantum dots might be used in medicine, especially in cancer medicine. QD’s of indium phosphide and zine sulfide, for example, can be injected into a tumor, and depending on the size of the dot they will emit different color light that shows both the tumor’s cellular heterogeneity and whether or not any malignant cells have migrated to the lymph nodes. Compared to organic dyes and radioactive tracers, QD’s give a brighter light and last longer during a surgical process. MORE
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