We review the syntheses, optical properties, and biological applications of cadmium selenide (CdSe) and cadmium selenide-zinc sulfide (CdSe-ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) and gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). Specifically, we selected the syntheses of QDs and Au and Ag NPs in aqueous and organic phases, size- and shape-dependent photoluminescence (PL) of QDs and plasmon of metal NPs, and their bioimaging applications. The PL properties of QDs are discussed with reference to their band gap structure and various electronic transitions, relations of PL and photoactivated PL with surface defects, and blinking of single QDs. Optical properties of Ag and Au NPs are discussed with reference to their size- and shape-dependent surface plasmon bands, electron dynamics and relaxation, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The bioimaging applications are discussed with reference to in vitro and in vivo imaging of live cells, and in vivo imaging of cancers, tumor vasculature, and lymph nodes. Other aspects of the review are in vivo deep tissue imaging, multiphoton excitation, NIR fluorescence and SERS imaging, and toxic effects of NPs and their clearance from the body.

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The liquid−liquid interface of two immiscible solvents remarkably controls the morphology of polymeric nanostructures as compared to the polymerization in single solvent systems. The polymerization of pyrrole in the water− chloroform medium using silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) as oxidant yields polypyrrole/silver (PPy/Ag) sheets. The water−chloroform interface acts as a template for the growth of PPy/Ag hybrids into sheets by preventing the secondary growth of silver associated pyrrole oligomers in a three-dimensional (3-D) manner. On the contrary, the 3-D growth of pyrrole oligomers into spherical shapes at the water−chloroform interface is observed when ammonium persulfate (APS) is used as the oxidant. Transmission electron microscopic and scanning electron microscopic images reveal the sheetlike morphology of PPy/Ag with a relatively uniform distribution of Ag NPs (∼100 nm) on PPy sheets. The ratio of aqueous−organic bisolvent and the concentration/type of oxidant have a distinct effect on morphology, crystallinity, and electrical properties of PPy/Ag sheets. The dispersed PPy/Ag sheets are stable in moderately polar solvents up to 2 weeks. The electrochemical behavior of PPy/Ag sheets is confirmed by H 2 O 2 sensing capability through cyclic voltammetry experiments. The antibacterial activity toward E. coli and S. aureus is quantitatively assessed using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determination.