Combined with the research hotspot of material, chemistry and life science, a comprehensive experiment on the preparation, characterization and biological properties of single element sulfur quantum dots was designed. Polyethylene glycol modified sulfur quantum dots (PEG-SQDs) were obtained by the top-down method. The morphology, elements, functional groups, particle size, potential and fluorescence properties of PEG-SQDs were comprehensively characterized and analyzed by various characterization methods. Meanwhile, the biocompatibility, fluorescence imaging ability and cell entry behavior of PEG-SQDs were also studied. This experiment includes several steps such as the preparation, characterization and biological property analysis of quantum dots, involving the basic knowledge of materials, chemistry and life science. It not only expands students’ scope of knowledge, but also helps to cultivate students’ comprehensive practical ability and problem-analyzing and solving ability.