Recent Advancements and Applications of Quantum Dots in Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering is a rapidly advancing interdisciplinary field focused on restoring or replacing damaged tissues using engineered biological substitutes. This is commonly achieved by culturing cells on three-dimensional biodegradable scaffolds that support cell adhesion, proliferation, and extracellular matrix formation during scaffold degradation. Quantum dots (QDs), a class of inorganic nanofluorophores, have attracted significant attention due to their unique optical, physicochemical, and biofunctional properties. Through core-shell engineering and surface functionalization, QDs can be tailored to enhance biocompatibility and target specificity. They have broad biomedical applications, including bioimaging, targeted drug and gene delivery, in vivo cell tracking, and real-time tissue monitoring. In tissue engineering, QDs improve scaffold performance, guide stem cell differentiation, and support organ-specific tissue regeneration. Their high-resolution imaging capability enables continuous monitoring of tissue development and healing. QDs also show promise in regenerative medicine by modulating immune responses and promoting tissue repair, particularly in skeletal tissues. Despite challenges such as limited aqueous solubility, potential cytotoxicity, and biodistribution issues, advances in bioconjugation with peptides, polymers, and targeting ligands have significantly improved their safety. With continued research, QDs hold immense potential in personalized and precision medicine by integrating diagnostic and therapeutic functions within a single nanosystem.