{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T05:33:04Z","timestamp":1782365584602,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]],"date-time":"2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741046400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Dent. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Quantum dots (QDs) nanotechnology has gained significant attention in dentistry due to its unique properties, such as fluorescence, antimicrobial activity, and drug delivery potential. This review aims to identify the dental applications most actively incorporating QD technology and to examine the distinctive properties of QDs within Dentistry. Employing the Arksey and O'Malley five-stage framework, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases for English-language publications on QDs in dentistry. Scientific contributions were evaluated by analyzing publication volume, research trends, patents, and key areas of investigation. Of the 1,034 studies initially identified, 71 were fully screened, with 22 meeting the criteria for data extraction. Results showed that antimicrobial properties and bone regeneration are the primary focus areas for QDs in dental materials. Stock solutions and resin composites are the most common materials developed, with the studies primarily targeting ofenhancing antimicrobial capabilities and osteogenesis enhancement. Over the last decade, QDs have demonstrated potential in enhancing drug delivery, antimicrobial efficacy, and optical performance in dental materials. Despite their growing prominence, the clinical translation of QD-based technologies remains limited due to a lack of long-term studies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fdmed.2025.1503057","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]],"date-time":"2025-03-04T05:21:08Z","timestamp":1741065668000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Unlocking tiny titans: 360 view of the quantum dots nanotechnology for dental applications"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Tasneem","family":"Alluhaidan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Isadora Martini","family":"Garcia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Meghan","family":"Alexis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Masoumah","family":"Qaw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fabr\u00edcio Mezzomo","family":"Collares","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary Ann","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary Anne S.","family":"Melo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"550","DOI":"10.1038\/s41568-022-00496-9","article-title":"Cancer nanomedicine","volume":"22","author":"Bhatia","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nat Rev Cancer"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1365","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dental.2020.08.006","article-title":"Nanotechnology in dentistry: present and future perspectives on dental nanomaterials","volume":"36","author":"Jandt","year":"2020","journal-title":"Dent Mater"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"459","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tibtech.2013.05.010","article-title":"Nanotechnology-based restorative materials for dental caries management","volume":"31","author":"Melo","year":"2013","journal-title":"Trends Biotechnol"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15406","DOI":"10.1039\/D0RA00799D","article-title":"Carbon and graphene quantum dots: a review on syntheses, characterization, biological and sensing applications for neurotransmitter determination","volume":"10","author":"Tajik","year":"2020","journal-title":"RSC Adv"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4920","DOI":"10.1021\/acsanm.0c01386","article-title":"Quantum dots and their applications: what lies ahead?","volume":"3","author":"Cotta","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Appl Nano Mater"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"921","DOI":"10.1016\/S0038-1098(85)80025-9","article-title":"Quantum size effect in semiconductor microcrystals","volume":"56","author":"Ekimov","year":"1985","journal-title":"Solid State Commun"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9673","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.nanolett.3c03904","article-title":"The bright and enlightening science of quantum dots","volume":"23","author":"Manna","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nano Lett"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tibtech.2019.07.013","article-title":"Biological applications and toxicity minimization of semiconductor quantum dots","volume":"38","author":"Filali","year":"2020","journal-title":"Trends Biotechnol"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18760","DOI":"10.1039\/D3RA02673F","article-title":"Recent trends in macromolecule-conjugated hybrid quantum dots for cancer theranostic applications","volume":"13","author":"Boopathy","year":"2023","journal-title":"RSC Adv"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actbio.2019.05.022","article-title":"Quantum dots in biomedical applications","volume":"94","author":"Wagner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Acta Biomater"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2450004","DOI":"10.1142\/S1793292024500048","article-title":"Carbon quantum dots carrying antibiotics for treating dental implant bacterial infections following photothermal therapy","volume":"19","author":"Jiang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nano"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1670","DOI":"10.3390\/polym11101670","article-title":"Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of functionalized quantum dots","volume":"11","author":"Rajendiran","year":"2019","journal-title":"Polymers"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chembiol.2010.11.013","article-title":"Biocompatible quantum dots for biological applications","volume":"18","author":"Rosenthal","year":"2011","journal-title":"Chem Biol"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-023-03026-7","article-title":"Graphene quantum dots enhance the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs in the inflammatory microenvironment","volume":"23","author":"Gao","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2413","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms10122413","article-title":"Oral microorganisms and biofilms: new insights to defeat the main etiologic factor of oral diseases","volume":"10","author":"Bertolini","year":"2022","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100405","DOI":"10.1016\/j.impact.2022.100405","article-title":"Structural changes in selected human proteins induced by exposure to quantum dots, their biological relevance and possible biomedical applications","volume":"26","author":"Kunachowicz","year":"2022","journal-title":"NanoImpact"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.1007\/s10895-023-03276-2","article-title":"Recent applications of quantum dots in pharmaceutical analysis","volume":"34","author":"Belal","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Fluoresc"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"682","DOI":"10.1177\/0022034519835203","article-title":"Ionic liquid\u2013stabilized titania quantum dots applied in adhesive resin","volume":"98","author":"Garcia","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Dent Res"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pdpdt.2019.08.025","article-title":"Photoexcitation triggering via semiconductor graphene quantum dots by photochemical doping with curcumin versus perio-pathogens mixed biofilms","volume":"28","author":"Pourhajibagher","year":"2019","journal-title":"Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5473","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S253416","article-title":"Specific anti-biofilm activity of carbon quantum dots by destroying P. gingivalis biofilm related genes","volume":"15","author":"Liang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Nanomedicine"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8876745","DOI":"10.1155\/2021\/8876745","article-title":"Graphene oxide quantum dots promote osteogenic differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth via the wnt\/\u03b2-catenin signaling pathway","volume":"2021","author":"Yang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Stem Cells Int"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3911","DOI":"10.3390\/nano12213911","article-title":"Bismuth quantum dot (Bi QD)\/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanocomposites with self-cleaning and antibacterial activity for dental applications","volume":"12","author":"Hu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nanomaterials"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1728","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dental.2022.09.003","article-title":"Multifunctional modification of orthodontic adhesives with ZnO quantum dots","volume":"38","author":"Yan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Dent Mater"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1007\/s42823-022-00426-7","article-title":"Mechanical and antibacterial properties of resin co-filled with mesoporous silica and graphene quantum dots","volume":"33","author":"Lu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Carbon Lett"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105817","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmbbm.2023.105817","article-title":"Antibacterial and fluorescent clear aligner attachment resin modified with chlorhexidine loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles and zinc oxide quantum dots","volume":"141","author":"Cao","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Mech Behav Biomed Mater"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1213507","DOI":"10.3389\/fchem.2023.1213507","article-title":"Graphene quantum dots promote migration and differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells","volume":"11","author":"Liang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Chem"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103255","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pdpdt.2022.103255","article-title":"Ex-vivo effects of propolis quantum dots-nisin-nanoquercetin-mediated photodynamic therapy on Streptococcus mutans biofilms and white spot lesions","volume":"41","author":"Hosseinpour-Nader","year":"2023","journal-title":"Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5393","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.2c06508","article-title":"Concentration-dependent cellular uptake of graphene oxide quantum dots promotes the odontoblastic differentiation of dental pulp cells via the AMPK\/mTOR pathway","volume":"8","author":"Lin","year":"2023","journal-title":"ACS Omega"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14431","DOI":"10.1021\/acsanm.3c02446","article-title":"Peptide-functionalized ZnSe:Mn quantum dots as fluorescent probes for accurate localization of hidden dental lesion sites","volume":"6","author":"Xue","year":"2023","journal-title":"ACS Appl Nano Mater"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1186\/s12951-024-02422-7","article-title":"Human periodontal ligament stem cell sheets activated by graphene oxide quantum dots repair periodontal bone defects by promoting mitochondrial dynamics dependent osteogenic differentiation","volume":"22","author":"An","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Nanobiotechnol"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"035040","DOI":"10.1088\/1748-605X\/ad407b","article-title":"Performance evaluation of carbon quantum dots impregnated glass ionomer cement to avoid peri-implant disease","volume":"19","author":"Josephraj","year":"2024","journal-title":"Biomed Mater"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.3390\/designs8050092","article-title":"Seeking endurance: designing smart dental composites for tooth restoration","volume":"8","author":"Alluhaidan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Designs"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2023\/8803283","article-title":"Graphene-based materials in dental applications: antibacterial, biocompatible, and bone regenerative properties","volume":"2023","author":"Williams","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Biomater"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.3390\/c10010007","article-title":"A review of advances in graphene quantum dots: from preparation and modification methods to application","volume":"10","author":"Cui","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal Carbon Res"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101282","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmatsci.2024.101282","article-title":"Synthesis, properties, applications, 3D printing and machine learning of graphene quantum dots in polymer nanocomposites","volume":"144","author":"Dananjaya","year":"2024","journal-title":"Prog Mater Sci"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"804201","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2022.804201","article-title":"Graphene-based nanomaterials for dental applications: principles, current advances, and future outlook","volume":"10","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Bioeng Biotechnol"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.3290\/j.jad.a44285","article-title":"Quantum dots of tantalum oxide with an imidazolium ionic liquid as antibacterial agent for adhesive resin","volume":"22","author":"Garcia","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Adhes Dent"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1401","DOI":"10.1177\/0022034516656838","article-title":"Quantum dots as nonagglomerated nanofillers for adhesive resins","volume":"95","author":"Garcia","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Dent Res"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdent.2009.09.014","article-title":"Core-shell quantum dots tailor the fluorescence of dental resin composites","volume":"38","author":"Alves","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Dent"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"702","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cplett.2018.06.029","article-title":"Enhanced antibacterial properties of the bracket under natural light via decoration with ZnO\/carbon quantum dots composite coating","volume":"706","author":"Zhang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Chem Phys Lett"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2395","DOI":"10.1016\/S1003-6326(23)66267-3","article-title":"Antibacterial property of graphene quantum dots-modified TiO2 nanorods on titanium dental implant","volume":"33","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1498","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dental.2021.07.004","article-title":"Synergistic effects of graphene quantum dots and carbodiimide in promoting resin-dentin bond durability","volume":"37","author":"Chen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Dent Mater"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"621","DOI":"10.3390\/nano10040621","article-title":"Mesoporous bioactive glass combined with graphene oxide quantum dot as a new material for a new treatment option for dentin hypersensitivity","volume":"10","author":"Son","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nanomaterials"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Dental Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fdmed.2025.1503057\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]],"date-time":"2025-03-04T05:21:11Z","timestamp":1741065671000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fdmed.2025.1503057\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]]},"references-count":43,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fdmed.2025.1503057"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fdmed.2025.1503057","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-4915"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-4915","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]]},"article-number":"1503057"}}