Book excerpt: An overview of nanotechnology and its potential The field of nanotechnology is undergoing rapid developments on many fronts. This reference provides a comprehensive review of various nanotechnologies with a view to their biomedical applications. With chapters contributed by distinguished scientists from diverse disciplines, Biomedical Applications of Nanotechnology : Reviews recent advances in the designing of various nanotechnologies based on nucleic acids, polymers, biomaterials, and metals Discusses biomedical nanotechnology in areas such as drug and gene delivery Covers advanced aspects of imaging and diagnostics Includes a chapter on the issue of nanotoxicology Complete with figures and tables, this is a practical, hands-on reference book for researchers in pharmaceutical and biotech industries, biomedical engineers, pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacologists, and materials scientists as well as for the policymakers who need to understand the potential of nanotechnology. It is also an excellent resource book for graduate-level students in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, and other fields in which nanotechnology is playing an increasingly important role.