ABSTRACT
In the past decade, there has been an explosion in research eorts looking to apply the unique properties of nanoparticles to the treatment of a host of various diseases including cancer. In order to create a therapeutic nanoparticle, one must rst fabricate a nanoparticle with the specic properties (optical absorption, magnetic properties, etc.) necessary to provide the therapeutic eect. e particle must then be eectively delivered to the tumor site. Most nanoparticle materials require some type of surface modication in order to facilitate delivery to tumor sites, especially if intravenous delivery is desired. It would be a nearly impossible task to deliver a comprehensive list of all the various permutations of nanoparticle fabrication methods, nanoparticle material, geometries, and properties being developed in the ever-expanding eld of nanoparticle-based therapies. In this chapter, the fabrication methods for a number of the most popular nanoparticle systems and the techniques for subsequently modifying these nanoparticles to enable their delivery to the tumor will be described.
