Quantum Dots Broadening the Horizons of Biological Testing
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Posted On :
Aug-28-2009
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Article Word Count :
399
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During biological testing, it is often necessary to track substances to view where they are traveling in the biological organism. Traditionally, organic dyes were used for these purposes. Yet, as time goes on and demands have arisen, dyes have been going by the wayside.
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Quantum Dots Broadening the Horizons of Biological Testing
During biological testing, it is often necessary to track substances to view where they are traveling in the biological organism. Traditionally, organic dyes were used for these purposes. Yet, as time goes on and demands have arisen, dyes have been going by the wayside. Replacing them are quantum dots.
Greater brightness and photostability are key benefits
Quantum dots offer a variety of benefits over organic dyes. First, quantum dots are much brighter than organic dyes. This makes it a lot easier to differentiate where the dye is, and where it isn’t. Another benefit of using quantum dots is their higher stability. This higher stability means that quantum dots are much less susceptible to photobleaching, which causes the dye to fade during observation. Finally, quantum dots can produce results in much smaller amounts. All these benefits add to the overall convenience and superiority of using quantum dots.
In addition to being more practical than organic dyes, quantum dots open the door for tests and imaging that was not an option previously. For one, quantum dots allow for multiple angle images to be taken and then combined into a three-dimensional model. Not only that, but the increased photostability of quantum dots allows for much longer observation periods. There are experiments when quantum dots were observed for over four months. With this extended viewing period, scientists and better investigate long term effects and how an organism reacts under various conditions.
Problems to address with Quantum Dots
Quantum dots are not without their developmental challenges. For one, CdSe nanocrystals are toxic to their cultured cells when they are viewed under UV illumination. In the absence of UV illumination, quantum dots have been found to be nontoxic. There are still some concerns with the use of quantum dots that have to be cleared up before they are approved for use in humans.
The Future of Quantum Dots in Biological Testing
With the number of benefits offered by semiconductor quantum dots, they are the best choice for many situations in biological testing. The increased visibility and stability give researchers options that were previously unavailable. Finally, as it is with many developing scientific tools, there will be solutions developed to overcome any possible negative effects. This means that there are even more possible applications to look forward to.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Quantum Dots Broadening the Horizons of Biological Testing_2724.aspx
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Author Resource :
The Author of this article explains about the Quantum dots nanotechnology. He also says that semiconductor quantum dots are an exciting and emerging new technology which a great deal of potential. Keep and eye out in the future for some of the advancements mentioned here involving quantum dots.
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Keywords :
Quantum dots, Light-Emitting Diode, solar energy, LED lights, Compact fluorescent bulbs, incandescent bulbs, Semiconductor,
Category :
Business
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Business
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