Sulfur quantum dots for fluorescence sensing in biological and pharmaceutical samples: a review

Abstract

The creation of uncomplicated and efficient sensors for achieving specific analyte detection can provide valuable information for on-site analysis. Sulfur quantum dots (SQDs), an innovative category of fluorescent nanomaterials, are currently under study and applied in diverse fields, with a primary focus on fluorescence (FL) sensing. These SQDs offer several advantages, such as a straightforward synthesis method, distinct composition, extremely small size, customizable fluorescence, and minimal toxicity. This review focuses on fluorescent sensors designed based on SQDs, emphasizing the detection of specific targets in human biological samples, as well as in pharmaceutical samples. Finally, this paper addresses the future development and critical challenges associated with the detection of many targets based on SQDs as probes in different fields.