ИСТИНА

New trend in immunoassays - the development of different types of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) to be used as labels in immunoassays instead of fluorophores or organic particles. Fluorescence has been used most as the detection mode for immunoassays. The inorganic NPs are characterized by their high photostability and high quantum yield. The inorganic NPs studied most have been silica NPs, quantum dots (QDs), noble metals, metal nanoshells and lanthanide oxides. Quantum Dots (QDs) is luminescent inorganic nanocrystals. The emission wavelength is a function of the crystal size - crystals of the same chemistry can have the emission maxima in a wide range. The CdTe nanocrystals are most widely used as QDs. Usually QDs coated with -COOH groups and can be easily used for labeling purposes for chemical and biological applications. The QDs have growing attention because of their good stability, excellent optical and electrochemical properties, resistance to photobleaching and to organic solvents. The recent advances in the preparation and the properties of QDs and their applications in environmental and biological areas will be discussed. In addition, the future development of QDs will be suggested.