Quantum Dot-Based Luminescent Sensors: Review from Analytical Perspective

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Quantum Dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles (<10 nm) with tunable, stable luminescence.
• They are increasingly used for detecting various analytes like metal ions, biomarkers, and pollutants.
• Luminescent QD-based sensors are a rapidly developing field in analytical chemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review recent advancements in luminescent Quantum Dot (QD)-based sensors.
• To analyze key analytical figures of merit from 124 peer-reviewed articles.
• To identify trends and challenges in QD-based sensor development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic collection, tabulation, and analysis of data from 124 peer-reviewed publications.
• Extraction and graphical analysis of analytical figures of merit (LOD, wavelengths, particle size).
• Calculation of geometric mean and median Limits of Detection (LODs) for different QD sensing modalities.

Main Results:

• Geometric mean LODs: 38 nM (fluorescent), 26 nM (phosphorescent), and 0.109 pM (chemiluminescent).
• QD-chemiluminescent sensors exhibit significantly higher sensitivity.
• AI-based methods (ATTBeadNet, OPCA, SVM) enhance analytical performance.

Conclusions:

• QD-chemiluminescent sensors offer unparalleled sensitivity for analyte detection.
• Further improvements are needed in recovery, biocompatibility, and stability for robust QD sensors.
• This review provides insights for designing high-performance, stable QD-based luminescent sensors.