Application of Metallic Nanomaterials in Nanomedicine.

In this chapter, we explain why metallic nanomaterials are used in nanomedicine. We have shown that the electron density in metallic nanomaterials oscillates and creates electron density waves. When laser light falls on metallic nanoparticles, light interacts with electron density waves. According to Einstein, light, which is electromagnetic waves, consists of particles called photons. Similarly, electron density waves are also made of particles called surface plasmons. Therefore, photons from laser light and surface plasmons from metallic nanostructures interact with each other and create new particles called surface plasmon polaritons. These new particles produce an intense light near the surface of metallic nanomaterials. We showed that this intense light is important in the application of metallic nanomaterials in nanomedicine. Further, we have applied metallic nanoparticles, single metallic nanoshells and double metallic nanoshells for treatment of cancer and detection of smaller tumors.