Nanotechnology is now a mature subject in terms of the basic science, and while there were many claims for what it could achieve 20 years ago, the application to medicine and healthcare has now become more well defined. When considering nanotechnology’s future in the medical devices field, it is best to divide the field into five main categories: medical image enhancement; drug delivery vehicles; nanomaterials for functional coatings; therapeutic aspects of nanomaterials that make use of their small size and properties; and finally biosensors that make use of nanoparticles. There are common themes that apply to each of these fields and in this review we will summarize these and identify gaps in understanding and opportunities.
