Photoluminescent quantum dots (QDs) promise many biomedical applications as a new class of optical probes showing unique optical properties such as high brightness, stability, and multiplexing ability. In this review, we focus on recent research interest of medically-translatable QDs for in vitro biomedical sensing and in vivo imaging. QD-based biomedical sensing shows higher selectivity and sensitivity over conventional methods for immunohistochemistry, immunoassay, and enzymatic assays. In addition, QD-based biosensors afford simple detections of multiple biomarkers. QD probes in the second near-infrared region (1000 ≤ λ ≤ 1700 nm) show the great potential for in vivo fluorescence imaging because of the suppressed light scattering and the capability for deep tissue penetration. The second near-infrared emitting QDs covered in this review include Ag₂S, Ag₂Se, Ag₂Te, PbS, PbSe, InAs, Cd₃P_2, Cd₆P_7, and Cd₃As₂ QDs. In vivo imaging properties of these QDs are highlighted with special reference to vasculature imaging and tumor localization.

作为一种新型的光学探针，光致发光的量子点（QD）有望在许多生物医学领域得到应用，这些探针显示出独特的光学特性，例如高亮度，稳定性和复用能力。在这篇综述中，我们重点关注可医学翻译的QD在体外生物医学传感和体内成像方面的最新研究兴趣。与传统的免疫组织化学，免疫测定和酶测定方法相比，基于QD的生物医学传感显示出更高的选择性和灵敏度。此外，基于QD的生物传感器可对多种生物标志物进行简单检测。第二近红外区域（1000≤λ≤1700 nm）中的QD探针由于抑制了光散射和深层组织穿透的能力，因此具有体内荧光成像的巨大潜力。₂ S，Ag ₂ Se，Ag ₂ Te，PbS，PbSe，InAs，Cd ₃ P _2， Cd ₆ P ₇和Cd ₃ As ₂ QDs。这些QD的体内成像特性特别强调了血管成像和肿瘤定位。