Fluorescent quantum dots for microbial imaging

Quantum dots (QDs), with several unique optical and chemical features, are becoming desirable fluorescent tags for the biological applications that require long-term and highly sensitive imaging. Besides, the conjugation of various functional biomolecules to QDs has enabled wide applications of QDs in biological imaging. This review focuses on the following four types of QDs: semiconductor quantum dots (semiconductor QDs), carbon nanodots (CDs), silicon quantum dots (SiQDs), and polymer dots (Pdots), and summarizes the recent advancements of using these QDs in imaging microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. We hope that this review will promote the development of new fluorescent QDs for microbial imaging and extend the applications of QD-based imaging techniques in cell biology and beyond.