Spectral Signature Analysis of Surface Functionalized Nanoparticles

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing field that has caught the interest of the scientific community due to its potential applications in biomedical research. Nanomaterials are typically less than 100 nm in diameter, making them small enough to penetrate mammalian cells. Nanomaterials can be synthesized in many shapes, such as rods, tubes, and particles, as well as in varying elemental compositions such as metals, metal oxides, and combinations of these. Their large surface area to volume ratio makes them suitable for surface functionalization, allowing for attachment of targeting or therapeutic molecules. When nanoparticles are delivered systemically, attached targeting molecules enable detection of certain cell populations, such as tumor cells, while attached therapeutic compounds can act on the targeted cells.