关键词：纳米医学；医药；治疗学
摘 要：Nanotechnology is a relatively recent field of scientific research. Richard Feynman first propounded the concept in 1959. An official definition of nanotechnology is still a controversial issue and there are many scientific committees hard at work to harmonize the term and obtain universal regulation. There are enormous expectations with regard to the potential for nanotechnology in many different scientific fields. Over the last ten years, a large number of potential applications for nanotechnology have been described, most especially in the fields of biology, biotechnology and medicine. The term nanomedicine is used to describe the medical application of nanotechnology in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of several diseases. Such applications have led to significant advances in clinical areas such as oncology (nanoncology), neuroscience, cardiovascular disease and many others. Nanomedicine has the potential to improve the efficiency of existing drugs while reducing their side effects, to create new therapeutic systems, to enhance diagnosis to achieve higher levels of detection, to create new scaffolds for tissue regeneration and to create internal surveillance systems in order to avoid the development of disease. With the great potential of nanotechnology it is expected to have significant impact, both on an economic and technological level. However, concerns about possible toxicity and certain ethical issues are delaying the launch of this promising new technology. The purpose of the present review is to highlight new findings in the field of nanomedicine, most especially in the area of oncology, and to describe its major benefits, possible risks and current regulations, as well as to enumerate some of the nanomaterials developed up to now. Additionally we discuss future prospects for the development of certain emerging nanotechnologies and their potential contributions to medicine and market impact will be discussed.