tailieunhanh - MULTICOLOR QUANTUM DOTS FOR MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS OF CANCER

A good model is provided by astrobiology, which studies the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe. Physicists, chemists, astronomers, earth scientists and biologists have been able to come to- gether to tackle such problems as how life began; whether life could exist on Mars, Europa or Titan; and what range of extreme environments micro-organisms may tolerate. So far, there has been little dialogue between cancer biologists and astrobiologists, but this is set to change. Astrobiologists have a deep grasp of the nature of life and evolution, and could have much to contribute to the war on cancer. Nor is this a one- way street. I believe that cancer provides. | Review For reprint orders please contact reprints@ Multicolor quantum dots for molecular diagnostics of cancer Andrew M Smith Shivang Dave Shuming Nie Lawrence True and Xiaohu Gaor Contents Quantum dot photophysics chemistry Cancer diagnostics with quantum dots Toxicity clinical potential Expert commentary Five-year view Key issues References Affiliations In the pursuit of sensitive and quantitative methods to detect and diagnose cancer nanotechnology has been identified as a field of great promise. Semiconductor quantum dots are nanoparticles with intense stable fluorescence and could enable the detection of tens to hundreds of cancer biomarkers in blood assays on cancer tissue biopsies or as contrast agents for medical imaging. With the emergence of gene and protein profiling and microarray technology high-throughput screening of biomarkers has generated databases of genomic and expression data for certain cancer types and has identified new cancer-specific markers. Quantum dots have the potential to expand this in vitro analysis and extend it to cellular tissue and whole-body multiplexed cancer biomarker imaging. Author for correspondence University of Washington Department of Bioengineering Seattle WA 98195 USA Tel. 1206543 6562 Fax 1206 6854434 xgao@ Keywords biosensor cancer imaging immunohistochemistry in vivo multiplex nanotechnology quantum dot toxicity Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn. 6 2 231-244 2006 Since 1999 cancer has been the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 85 years and the eradication of this disease has been the long sought-after goal of scientists and physicians 1 . Clinical outcome of cancer diagnosis is strongly related to the stage at which the malignancy is detected and therefore early screening has become desirable especially for breast and cervical cancer in women and colorectal and prostate cancer in men. However most solid tumors are currently only detectable once they reach approximately 1 cm