Application of nanotechnology in medical diagnosis and imaging

Nanotechnology has tremendously impacted the advancement in imaging, early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of diseases by improving upon existing clinically relevant technologies. The unique biophysical properties of the nanoparticles enable contrast enhancement to improve biomedical imaging while our ability to manipulate nanoparticles for molecular level specificity enables tissue-specific diagnosis. Importantly, subtle variation in size or composition of the nanoparticles can result in great changes in their optical, magnetic or electrical properties that allows unique possibility of multiplexing. This concise but focused review summarizes the important classes of nanoparticles that have been actively used in improving our ability to image diseased tissues and have contributed to develop technologies that has led to early detection and diagnosis of diseases.

Automated summary

Nanotechnology has greatly impacted the advancement in disease imaging, early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis. The unique properties of nanoparticles enable contrast enhancement for biomedical imaging and molecular level tissue-specific diagnosis. Small variations in nanoparticle size or composition can result in significant changes in their optical, magnetic, or electrical properties, allowing for unique possibilities of multiplexing.