Editing Nanomedicine (section)

== Sensing ==
{{Main|Nanosensor}}Nanotechnology-on-a-chip is one more dimension of [[lab-on-a-chip]] technology. Magnetic nanoparticles, bound to a suitable antibody, are used to label specific molecules, structures or microorganisms. Silica nanoparticles, in particular, are inert from a photophysical perspective and can accumulate a large number of dye(s) within their shells.<ref name="Nanoparticles">{{cite journal | vauthors = Valenti G, Rampazzo E, Bonacchi S, Petrizza L, Marcaccio M, Montalti M, Prodi L, Paolucci F | display-authors = 6 | title = 2+ Core-Shell Silica Nanoparticles | journal = Journal of the American Chemical Society | volume = 138 | issue = 49 | pages = 15935–15942 | date = December 2016 | pmid = 27960352 | doi = 10.1021/jacs.6b08239 | hdl = 11585/583548 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> Gold nanoparticles tagged with short [[DNA]] segments can be used to detect genetic sequences in a sample. Multicolor optical coding for biological assays has been achieved by embedding different-sized [[quantum dot]]s into polymeric [[microbead]]s. Nanopore technology for analysis of nucleic acids converts strings of nucleotides directly into electronic signatures.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shi |first=Jidong |last2=Hou |first2=Junfeng |last3=Fang |first3=Ying |date=2016-03-01 |title=Recent advances in nanopore-based nucleic acid analysis and sequencing |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00604-015-1503-y |journal=Microchimica Acta |language=en |volume=183 |issue=3 |pages=925–939 |doi=10.1007/s00604-015-1503-y |issn=1436-5073}}</ref>

Sensor test chips containing thousands of nanowires, able to detect proteins and other biomarkers left behind by cancer cells, could enable the detection and diagnosis of cancer in the early stages from a few drops of a patient's blood.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Zheng G, Patolsky F, Cui Y, Wang WU, Lieber CM | title = Multiplexed electrical detection of cancer markers with nanowire sensor arrays | journal = Nature Biotechnology | volume = 23 | issue = 10 | pages = 1294–301 | date = October 2005 | pmid = 16170313 | doi = 10.1038/nbt1138 | s2cid = 20697208 }}</ref> [[Nanotechnology]] is helping to advance the use of [[Arthroscopy|arthroscopes]], which are pencil-sized devices that are used in surgeries with lights and cameras so surgeons can do the surgeries with smaller incisions. The smaller the incisions the faster the healing time which is better for the patients. It is also helping to find a way to make an arthroscope smaller than a strand of hair.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Hall JS |title=Nanofuture: What's Next for Nanotechnology |date=2005 |publisher=Prometheus Books |location=Amherst, NY |isbn=1-59102-287-8 |pages=244–245}}</ref>

Research on [[nanoelectronics]]-based cancer diagnostics could lead to tests that can be done in [[Pharmacy|pharmacies]].  The results promise to be highly accurate and the product promises to be inexpensive.  They could take a very small amount of blood and detect cancer anywhere in the body in about five minutes, with a sensitivity that is a thousand times better a conventional laboratory test.  These devices are built with [[nanowire]]s to detect cancer proteins; each nanowire detector is primed to be sensitive to a different cancer marker.<ref name="pubs.rsc.org"/> The biggest advantage of the nanowire detectors is that they could test for anywhere from ten to one hundred similar medical conditions without adding cost to the testing device.<ref name="dstorectest">{{cite magazine | vauthors = Bullis K | url = http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/14887/ | title = Drug Store Cancer Tests | magazine = MIT Technology Review | date = 31 October 2005| access-date = 8 October 2009}}</ref> Nanotechnology has also helped to personalize oncology for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. It is now able to be tailored to each individual's tumor for better performance. They have found ways that they will be able to target a specific part of the body that is being affected by cancer.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Keller J |title= Nanotechnology has also helped to personalize oncology for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. It is now able to be tailored to each individual's tumor for better performance|journal=Military & Aerospace Electronics|year=2013|volume=23|issue=6|page=27}}</ref>