Abstract

Nanotechnology not only offers the promise of new enhancements to existing materials but also allows for the development of new materials and devices. The potential applications of nanotechnology range from medicine to agriculture to health and environmental science and beyond. Nanotechnology is growing at such a rate that Lux Research in 2007 estimated that nanotechnology will be incorporated into 15% of global manufactured goods by 2014. The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative defines nanotechnology as the following: “ Research and technology development involving structures with at least one dimension in the range of 1-100 nanometers, frequently with atomic/molecular precision; Creating and using structures, devices, and systems that have unique properties and functions because of their nanoscale dimensions; The ability to control or manipulate on the atomic scale.” Nanomedicine and its subcategories of nanotherapeutics and in vivo nanodiagnostics incorporate nanoscale materials with unique properties that can enable new or improved treatments and diagnostics for many diseases and disorders.