ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the different types of technologies and materials used for therapy delivery. Nanoparticles made of metal, carbon nanotubes, polymers, or other materials can be used in a variety of medical applications, especially when combined with antigen-specific coatings or functional groups on their surfaces. The chapter describes how nanoparticles can be coated with selective compounds to adhere to cancer cells for imaging and for delivering killing blows of energy, and how nanoparticles can be used in conjunction with phototherapy and magnetism. It discusses some examples that show the directions and possibilities among the many new applications in this rapidly advancing field. The chapter explores the use of nanoparticles such as quantum dots for enhancement of conventional diagnostic images to show anatomical features and identify tumor cells. Nanoparticles can be targeted for drug delivery just as for imaging and photothermal therapy. In general, drug delivery with nanoparticles provides capabilities not attainable by other therapies.
