A 5-aminolevulinic acid conjugated quantum dot nanoparticle is useful for treating cancer by administering the 5-aminolevulinic acid conjugated quantum dot nanoparticle in photodynamic therapy as a precursor of both a fluorescence label and a photosensitizer.

Passivated semiconductor nanoparticles and methods for the fabrication and use of passivated semiconductor nanoparticles is provided herein.

The invention relates to a device tor correlative scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and light microscopy. In order to create a device for correlative microscopy which enables an improved combination of light microscopy and STEM methods, a STEM detector (7) according to the invention is combined with a photo-optical lens (8). This detection device combines the efficient detection by means of STEM microscopy of materials having a high atomic number, for example specific nanoparticle markers in a specimen in a liquid, such as a cell, with simultaneous light microscopy.

There is provided a micellar particle having at least a core-shell configuration, wherein a fluorescent molecule is encapsulated within said core and wherein said shell is formed from an inorganic compound.

One or more aqueous, near infrared emitting, high yield, highly photoluminescent, stable quantum dots conjugated to one or more biomarkers specific moieties. The conjugated quantum dots have an enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity and may be formed using a novel and efficient method for conjugating one or more biomarker specific moieties to the quantum dots. The invention is further directed to a method for using the conjugated quantum dots for cancer detection in the margin of excised tissue.