Quantum dots for bone tissue engineering

Ning Ding; Fengjin Zhou; Guangfeng Li; Hao Shen; Long Bai; Jiacan Su

Materials Today Bio (Oct 2024)

Quantum dots for bone tissue engineering

Ning Ding,
Fengjin Zhou,
Guangfeng Li,
Hao Shen,
Long Bai,
Jiacan Su

Affiliations

Ning Ding: Organoid Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
Fengjin Zhou: Department of Orthopaedics, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, 710000, China
Guangfeng Li: Organoid Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Zhongye Hospital, Shanghai, 200444, China
Hao Shen: Department of Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; Corresponding author.
Long Bai: Organoid Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; Wenzhou Institute of Shanghai University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China; Corresponding author.
Jiacan Su: Organoid Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; Department of Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 28
p. 101167

Abstract

Read online

In confronting the global prevalence of bone-related disorders, bone tissue engineering (BTE) has developed into a critical discipline, seeking innovative materials to revolutionize treatment paradigms. Quantum dots (QDs), nanoscale semiconductor particles with tunable optical properties, are at the cutting edge of improving bone regeneration. This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted roles that QDs play within the realm of BTE, emphasizing their potential to not only revolutionize imaging but also to osteogenesis, drug delivery, antimicrobial strategies and phototherapy. The customizable nature of QDs, attributed to their size-dependent optical and electronic properties, has been leveraged to develop precise imaging modalities, enabling the visualization of bone growth and scaffold integration at an unprecedented resolution. Their nanoscopic scale facilitates targeted drug delivery systems, ensuring the localized release of therapeutics. QDs also possess the potential to combat infections at bone defect sites, preventing and improving bacterial infections. Additionally, they can be used in phototherapy to stimulate important bone repair processes and work well with the immune system to improve the overall healing environment. In combination with current trendy artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the development of bone organoids can also be combined with QDs. While QDs demonstrate considerable promise in BTE, the transition from laboratory research to clinical application is fraught with challenges. Concerns regarding the biocompatibility, long-term stability of QDs within the biological environment, and the cost-effectiveness of their production pose significant hurdles to their clinical adoption. This review summarizes the potential of QDs in BTE and highlights the challenges that lie ahead. By overcoming these obstacles, more effective, efficient, and personalized bone regeneration strategies will emerge, offering new hope for patients suffering from debilitating bone diseases.

Published in Materials Today Bio

ISSN: 2590-0064 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General); Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-today-bio

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords