Quantum Dot's Qdots, Biophan Technologies' NanoView, and Invitrogen's Genicon RLS are highlighted in this discussion of advances that improve diagnostic imaging and gene expression research. At the Southern California NanoForum (SCNF), Quantum Dot and Biophan were among companies presenting. Qdot particles are nanometer-sized semiconductor crystals, and the Qdot Conjugate product line has a variety of nanocrystals conjugated to biological molecules, including streptavidin, biotin, protein A, and secondary antibodies. Qdots are used in multiple arrays, including immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and plate-based assays. Customers include Astra Zeneca and Genentech, and Quantum Dot also partners with Matsushita/Panasonic to develop the Mosaic Q 1000 Scanner, an instrument for Qbead microsphere assays. The Qbead is a 5- to 15- micron polymer bead for diagnostic testing in assays that use either fluorescence microscopes or flow cytometry, and in combinatorial- library synthesis. Biophan develops products that render medical devices safe and compatible with magnetic resonance imaging and has worked with Nanoset to develop and test nano-magnetic thin film coatings that could reduce image artifacts and tissue heating that takes place during a MRI procedure. Biophan predicts that its NanoView technology will improve the quality and efficaciousness of MRI and other diagnostic imaging procedures and that NanoView particles will enhance signal intensity in diagnostic imaging and permit use of multiple markets.