Going Small for Big Advances: Using Nanotechnology to Advance Cancer Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment

This book contains information and resources about nanotechnology and NCI's Cancer Nanotechnology Plan. Nanotechnology research is generating a variety of constructs, giving cancer researchers great flexibility in their efforts to change the paradigm of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Shown here are two such structures. On the left are highly stable nanoparticles containing a cross-linked hydrophilic shell and a hydrophobic interior. On the right are spherical dendrimers, which are of rigorously defined size based on the number of monomer layers used to create a particular dendrimer. Like most of the other nanoparticles being developed, these are easily manipulated, affording researchers the opportunity to add a variety of molecules to the surfaces and interiors of the nanoparticles.