Challenges and advances in quantum dot fluorescent probes to detect reactive oxygen and nitrogen species: A review

• Review on quantum dot probes to detect reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.
• Probes have been developed in cells but with limited successes.
• Compared with organic dye probes, quantum dots probes are still limited.
• Quantitation in cellular media has been achieved.
• Appropriate surface modification can enhance specificity.

The pathological and physiological effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) have instigated increasing awareness in the scientific field with respect to the development of suitable probes for their detection. Among the various probes developed to date, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) fluorescent probes have attracted significant attention. The unfavourable properties of ROS/RNS with respect to their detection, such as their short lifetimes and the competitive presence of various endogenous reactive species, capable of interfering with the probe in biological matrices, have hindered the effective performance of most probes as well as complicating the design of suitable probes. The development of novel QD fluorescent probes capable of circumventing these problems is thus, of scientific interest. In this review, we highlight the challenges faced, pros and cons and published developments to date, with respect to QD fluorescent probes for ROS/RNS such as H2O2, O2−, OH, HOCl, NO and ONOO−.

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