ABSTRACT
Earlier diagnosis has been shown to be the most important factor in prognostic outcome highlighting the critical need for developing novel approaches for early cancer detection. Cancer diagnosis has been widely and aggressively pursued by various nanotechnology research initiatives. This chapter highlights some atomic force microscope techniques developed for cancer diagnostics based on unique nanoscale properties and/or structure of cancer cells or tumour-associated biomolecules. Nanomedicine is an emerging field with significant potential to yield new generation of scientific and technological approaches and advance clinical tools and devices. Nanomedicine refers to the specialized application of nanotechnology for diagnosing, treating and preventing disease and improving human health. The overall goal of nanomedicine is to achieve accurate and early diagnosis, effective treatment with minimal or no side effects and rapid and non-invasive monitoring of treatment efficacy. Traditionally, medicine takes a generalized approach to treat diseases, though the response may vary dramatically among individuals.
