Nanoparticles
Nanomaterials are typically less than 100 nm in diameter, small enough to penetrate mammalian cells. They can be synthesized in many shapes, such as rods, tubes, and particles, as well as in different materials. Targeting or therapeutic molecules can be readily attached to nanoparticles, and when these are delivered systemically, the targeting molecules enable detection of certain cell populations, such as tumor cells, while attached therapeutic compounds can act on the targeted cells.