In a new study, the crystals had no toxic effects in
non-human primates
Tiny silicon crystals caused no health problems in monkeys
three months after large doses were injected, marking a step forward in the
quest to bring such materials into clinics as biomedical imaging agents,
according to a new study.
The findings, published online July 10 in the journal ACS
Nano, suggest that the silicon nanocrystals, known as quantum dots, may be a
safe tool for diagnostic imaging in humans. The nanocrystals absorb and emit
light in the near-infrared part of the spectrum, a quality that makes them
ideal for seeing deeper into tissue than traditional fluorescence-based
techniques.