Introduction

Abstract While fascinating medical applications of engineered nanoparticles are at the forefront of the public perception of how nanotechnologies will change the detection and treatment of disease – as comprehensively reviewed in this volume – even more long‐range medical impact is expected to come from the application of nanotechnology tools to quantify biological processes at the nanoscale. Today, not only can images be taken with steadily improved spatial and temporal resolution; combined with unprecedented abilities to conduct quantitative measurements on biological nanosystems and living cells, we are entering a new era in biomedical sciences. Biologists, physical scientists and engineers have begun to analyze biological nanosystems in action, as well as the factors that cause their malfunction. Never before was it possible to elucidate how the molecular components in cells work together when integrated into complex systems. As enabled by nanotechnologies, the major focus of this introductory chapter – and of the book in its entirety – is to describe selected examples from the forefront of scientific discovery. In this context, it is discussed how this plethora of new tools can be used to distil underpinning mechanisms and engineering design principles that Nature has evolved and uses to build and operate its nanoscale machineries. Most importantly, this finally leads into an exploration as to how these novel insights into the biological nanoworld might provide new solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.