Emergence of Fluorescent Glycodots for Biomedical Applications

Carbohydrate-functionalized quantum dots exhibit excellent physical characteristics and enhance the steric interaction with biological cells and tissues. Glycoconjugation of quantum dots promotes aqueous solubility, stability, and reduced immunogenicity. Carbohydrate-protein interactions are involved in various vital processes and provide insight into cellular recognition, cell-to-cell communication, pathogenicity, antigen-antibody recognition, and enzymatic action. Quantum dots are fluorescent materials with rich quantum mechanical and unique optical properties, making them valuable for biomedical applications. Recent advancements in quantum dot materials as biomedical tools have led to the development of carbohydrate-conjugated glyco-functionalized quantum dots. These innovations promise application as nanocarriers, imaging agents, fluorescent probes, and theranostics. This review provides an overview of glyco nanotechnology, emphasizing carbohydrate-conjugated metal-, silicon-, and carbon-based quantum dots as glyco dots and their potential biomedical uses. We hope that this study will address the gap in this field and provide a more precise understanding of the subject.