Cancer and Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology, which involves controlling matter at the tiniest scale, is capable of creating unique structures and devices which find use in cancer research and oncology. These structures, in combination with molecular discoveries, can provide tools needed to develop advanced diagnostics, treatments, and preventive measures for cancer.

Nanotechnology is about working with materials and structures at an incredibly small scale, ranging from about 1 to 100 nanometers as defined by the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). At this level, matter behaves in special ways that can be harnessed for specific purposes. These tiny structures can be used on their own or integrated into larger systems, offering great possibilities in cancer research and healthcare.

Nanotechnology has the potential to significantly improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. Although scientists and engineers started exploring these technologies only in the 1980s, there has been significant progress in using nano-based therapies and diagnostics in the clinic, with many more interventions in development.

This emerging and exciting field unites scientists from diverse disciplines, including physicists, chemists, engineers, information technologists, computer scientists, mathematicians, material scientists, and biologists. Nanotechnology finds applications in nearly every area of life, such as electronics, magnetics, optics, information technology, materials development, and biomedicine. Already, nanotechnology-based structures and devices are fueling numerous innovative applications in various fields, including the realm of medicine.