26. Application of II–VI Semiconductor-Based Biosensors in Nanomedicine and Bioanalysis

The development of new and more efficient platforms for clinical diagnosis and bioanalysis, as well as the improvement of detection sensitivity, are constant goals in the sensing area. In the same context, the development of more efficient and less invasive approaches to medical therapy, drug administration and diagnosis is also a relevant issue. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are a central topic within nanotechnology and have drawn the attention of many researchers in the last few years. These nanoparticles have been frequently explored in several areas such as physics, chemistry and engineering, among others. Furthermore, QDs have been widely used in biomedical applications for detection, therapy, drug delivery and diagnosis, demonstrating promising potential. This chapter will introduce the reader to some applications of QDs in nanomedicine and bioanalysis. Various approaches focused on medical therapy, clinical treatment, diagnosis and biosensing of important species will be explored and discussed. The focus here will be on nanomaterials formed by elements from groups II to VI.