Nanomedicine Taxonomy

Nanomedicine Taxonomy

Nanomedicine research is being funded by government sources, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and by companies in various sectors, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices. Because of the focused and shorter term development horizon of commercial applications, nanomedicine research is more easily characterized in these areas.

The nanomedicine taxonomy summarized below and further described in this document, classifies some of the leading areas that nanotechnology tools, materials, devices, and intelligent materials and machines are currently applied in medical research. Specific company and university research activities should be interpreted as examples and are only a subset of the vast scope of nanomedicine research currently underway.

Biopharmaceutics

• Drug DeliveryDrug
• Encapsulation
• Functional Drug Carriers
• Drug Discovery

Implantable Materials

• Tissue Repair and Replacement
• Implant Coatings
• Tissue Regeneration Scaffolds
• Structural Implant Materials
• Bone Repair
• Bioresorbable Materials
• Smart Materials

Implantable Devices

• Assessment and Treatment Devices
• Implantable Sensors
• Implantable Medical Devices
• Sensory Aids
• Retina Implants
• Cochlear Implants

Surgical Aids

• Operating Tools
• Smart Instruments
• Surgical Robots

Diagnostic Tools

• Genetic Testing
• Ultra-sensitive Labeling and Detection Technologies
• High Throughput Arrays and Multiple Analyses Imaging
• Nanoparticle Labels
• Imaging Devices

Understanding Basic Life Processes