Issue 9, 2021

Luminescent copper indium sulfide (CIS) quantum dots for bioimaging applications

Abstract

Copper indium sulfide (CIS) quantum dots are ideal for bioimaging applications, by being characterized by high molar absorption coefficients throughout the entire visible spectrum, high photoluminescence quantum yield, high tolerance to the presence of lattice defects, emission tunability from the red to the near-infrared spectral region by changing their dimensions and composition, and long lifetimes (hundreds of nanoseconds) enabling time-gated detection to increase signal-to-noise ratio. The present review collects: (i) the most common procedures used to synthesize stable CIS QDs and the possible strategies to enhance their colloidal stability in aqueous environment, a property needed for bioimaging applications; (ii) their photophysical properties and parameters that affect the energy and brightness of their photoluminescence; (iii) toxicity and bioimaging applications of CIS QDs, including tumor targeting, time-gated detection and multimodal imaging, as well as theranostics. Future perspectives are analyzed in view of advantages and potential limitations of CIS QDs compared to most traditional QDs.

Graphical abstract: Luminescent copper indium sulfide (CIS) quantum dots for bioimaging applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
10 Mai 2021
Accepted
09 Jul 2021
First published
15 Jul 2021

Nanoscale Horiz., 2021,6, 676-695

Luminescent copper indium sulfide (CIS) quantum dots for bioimaging applications

G. Morselli, M. Villa, A. Fermi, K. Critchley and P. Ceroni, Nanoscale Horiz., 2021, 6, 676 DOI: 10.1039/D1NH00260K

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