ABSTRACT
As nanomedicine grows in popularity and becomes more of a commercially viable technology, major questions regarding the toxicological issues associated with nanotechnology will arise. This chapter discusses nanoparticles and their use as onco-diagnostics. It describes the use of nanotechnology for drug delivery and some of the factors, which limit the use of nanotechnology. Finally, the chapter explores some of the methods being used to assess nanotoxicology and techniques to help these effective therapeutic and diagnostic tools to reach their clinical potential. Quantum dots have shown great promise in medical diagnostics due to their unique optical properties. Quantum dots are capable of emitting a broad spectrum of fluorescence, a property which has been exploited mainly for use in biomedical imaging. The future holds the key to development of “smart drugs” which can be used as “Theranostics” which are agents that could serve as both therapeutic and imaging agents.
