1. Quantum dot synthesis methods / Yurii K. Gun'ko and Stephen Byrne -- 2. Biocompatible CdSe-ZnS Core-Shell Quantum dots / Ibrahim Yildiz and Frani̇sco M. Raymo -- 3. Electrochemical properties of semiconductor quantum dots / Matteo Amelia, Alberto Credi, and Serena Silvi -- 4. Electron transfer quenching for biosensing with quantum dots / David E. Benson, Stacey R. De Haan, Chase E. Hulderman, and Marla D. Swain -- 5. Quantum dot probes based on energy transfer mechanisms / John F. Callan, Bridgeen McCaughan, Colin Fowley, Narinder Singh, Navneet Kaur, and Suban Sahoo -- 6. Quantum dot reactive oxygen species generation and toxicity in bacteria : mechanisms and experimental pitfalls / Jay Nadeau.