Zeolite-Based Drug Delivery Systems Integrated with Quantum Dots for Theranostic Applications

Zeolites are crystalline microporous aluminosilicates with a highly ordered framework composed of [SiO₄]⁴⁻ and [AlO₄]⁵⁻ tetrahedra, forming a rigid three-dimensional network of uniformly sized channels and cavities. In pharmaceutical chemistry, they serve as effective drug carriers due to their high surface area, ion-exchange capacity, and tunable pore structures. The physicochemical properties of zeolites facilitate drug encapsulation through mechanisms such as physisorption, ion exchange, and host-guest inclusion, enabling sustained release and optimized therapeutic efficacy. Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles that behave as “artificial droplets of electric charge” capable of confining from a single electron to several thousand, depending on their size and structure. Their electronic and optical properties are strongly size- and shape-dependent, primarily due to quantum confinement effects. Moreover, owing to their photostable fluorescence, QDs have gained attention as promising tagging agents. They offer great potential for targeted drug delivery and real-time imaging applications in pharmaceutical sciences. The integration of zeolites and quantum dots creates a multifunctional nanoplatform for theranostic applications, combining “smart drug delivery” with simultaneous bioimaging capabilities. Zeolites can load and release therapeutic agents in a controlled manner, while QDs provide distinct optical signals for fluorescence-based tracking of the delivery process. In this hybrid system, drugs are loaded into the zeolite matrix, and QDs are either surface-conjugated or embedded within the structure. Functionalization with targeting ligands further enables selective delivery to diseased cells, such as cancer cells. This theranostic strategy not only enhances treatment precision but also enables real-time monitoring, representing a promising approach in the development of intelligent, targeted, and personalized nanomedicine.

Keywords:

Zeolite , Drug carrier , Quantum dots , Simultaneous bioimaging , Theranostic