Specialists of the MEPhI Laboratory of Nano-Bioengineering has developed a computer program that helps to model and synthesize semiconductor crystals of nanometer sizes – quantum dots of a new generation with unique properties, which can be used in particular in medicine for the diagnosis of severe diseases.

Quantum dots are capable of absorbing light in a wide range and to emit in a narrow wavelength interval, which is determined by size of a nanocrystal. Thus, one or another quantum dot “shines” in a certain color. These properties of quantum dots make them almost ideal for ultra-sensitive multi-color registration of biological objects, as well as for medical diagnostics.

“Our approach to the rational synthesis of quantum dots allowed us to obtain unique patterns of these promising materials with a compact size which are capable of reradiating almost 100% of absorbed light. The latter property allows using a new generation of lab-produced nanocrystals for drug delivery into living cells and tracking movement within them, and creating new types of LEDs and other optoelectronic devices”, said the head of a nanochemistry group of the LNBE MEPhI Pavel Samokhvalov.

According to him, the approach of MEPhI specialists allows to consider a large number of characteristics of real-life samples of quantum dots: size, shape, type of cutting and crystalline modification of materials.