Introduction

We summarize the historical development of nanotechnology over the last 55. years, and of photomedicine over the preceding 3000. years. The rationale for the fundamental connection between nanoscience and photomedicine lies in consideration of the dimensions of the wavelength of light. Since visible wavelengths are of the order of hundreds of nanometers, it follows that particles in the nanosized domain will be best placed to interact with light, via absorption, scattering or plasmon resonance. This type of interaction has a natural affinity to the new field of theranostics where multifunctionality is highly encouraged. Chapters in the present book can broadly be divided into two groupings. First we have disease imaging and tissue analysis applications that rely on the creative use of both light and nanomaterials. Secondly we have a group of chapters concentrating on the therapeutic effects of light (frequently pulsed lasers) in combination with various kinds of nanoparticles.