Clinical Translation of Smart Nanomaterials

Smart nanomaterials have emerged as transformative tools in clinical medicine, leading to a paradigm shift from conventional therapy to precision medicine. While nanomaterials in biomedicine have primarily been used for drug delivery, a new nanoscale platform has recently been developed, advancing biomaterials for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Due to their minute dimension and unique physicochemical nature, these nanomaterials are widely employed in various biological applications, including targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, biosensors, microfluidics, early prognosis, and diagnostics. They play a significant role in extending drug circulation time, enhancing biodistribution, improving solubility, facilitating intracellular transport, and traversing biological membranes. The scientific community is now advancing multifunctional nanomaterials that integrate therapeutic, targeting, and imaging properties. This chapter highlights the classification, characterization, and preclinical development methods of nanomaterials, as well as their significant implication in diagnostics and theranostics. Additionally, it aims to educate and engage the clinical community on the current state and challenges in translating nanomaterials for clinical applications.