Quantum dot nanotechnology: Advancing target drug delivery in Oncology

Conventional cancer treatments still have several serious drawbacks, including low targeted specificity, systemic toxicity, and insufficient therapy monitoring, even with tremendous advancements in oncology. To overcome the present obstacles in cancer drug administration and enable precision nanomedicine, this study tackles a crucial scientific question: How can quantum dots (QDs) be strategically created and integrated? Because of their remarkable fluorescence stability, tunable optical characteristics, and quantum confinement effects, QDs have become potent nanoplatforms for therapeutic and diagnostic (theranostic) uses. With an emphasis on their function in improving targeted drug delivery, we thoroughly examine the physicochemical properties that support QDs' biological value. The study summarizes the latest developments in QD functionalization, such as biodegradable nanostructures, ligand-mediated targeting, and hybrid systems that combine QDs with immunotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic, or chemotherapeutic drugs. We evaluate the translational potential of QD-based platforms by critically analyzing preclinical models and new clinical data, highlighting important factors, including imaging resolution, pharmacokinetics, and biocompatibility. The incorporation of recent advancements in QD-enabled theranostics, which highlight systems that can simultaneously visualize tumors and release drugs under control, is a novel feature of this review. We also point out issues that need to be resolved for clinical adoption, such as long-term toxicity, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory barriers. Ultimately, this analysis presents QDs as cutting-edge nanotechnology with the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by utilizing individualized, real-time treatment methods. We need greater interdisciplinary collaboration to advance these promising systems from the bench to the bedside.