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Medical Applications of Nanomaterials

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Nano-Optics: Principles Enabling Basic Research and Applications

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to an introduction to the fascinating field of nanomedicine. In particular, the role of material scientists in this interdisciplinary area will be discussed, by considering how the structural, morphological, and functional properties of nanoparticles can be designed for specific medical applications. Due to the large extent of the field, focus will be given to the optical applications of inorganic nanoparticles in medicine. These include in vitro and in vivo imaging, self-lighting photodynamic therapy, hyperthermia, and thermometry. Moreover some specific issues like self-absorption and autofluorescence, which turn out to be critical for the functionalization of luminescent nanoparticles, will be also described and discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to Professors José Garcia Solé, Daniel Jaque, M. Bettinelli, and A. Speghini for the fruitful collaboration and discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cozzi 55, 20125, Milan, Italy

    Anna Vedda & Irene Villa

Authors
  1. Anna Vedda
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  2. Irene Villa
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Correspondence to Anna Vedda .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Boston College, Massachusetts, USA

    Baldassare Di Bartolo

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts, USA

    John Collins

  3. Department of Physics, Boston College, Massachusetts, USA

    Luciano Silvestri

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Vedda, A., Villa, I. (2017). Medical Applications of Nanomaterials. In: Di Bartolo, B., Collins, J., Silvestri, L. (eds) Nano-Optics: Principles Enabling Basic Research and Applications. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series B: Physics and Biophysics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0850-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0850-8_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-0848-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-0850-8

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

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