A single quantum dot-based biosensor for telomerase assay.

Telomerase is a promising biomarker and a therapeutic target due to its extensive expression in human tumors such as lung cancer and breast cancer. Here, we develop a single quantum dot (QD)-based biosensor for the sensitive detection of telomerase activity. This single QD-based biosensor has significant advantages of simplicity and high sensitivity, and it can be applied for the discrimination of tumor cells from normal cells as well as the screening of anticancer drugs.