Translating nanomedicines from the lab to the clinic

The literature is replete with ingenious examples of nanomaterials engineered to address biomedical challenges. These materials may act as diagnostic agents, deliver active therapeutic agents, or intervene directly through a variety of modalities such as photothermal therapy. But the translation of such materials to the clinic remains uncommon. In this Voices article, we ask a panel of experts: what obstacles hinder clinical uptake of biomedical nanomaterials, and how can researchers in the physical sciences overcome them?