Nanotechnology has been described as “the transformational technology of the twenty-first century”. This article assesses the role that nano-scale technologies are likely to play in addressing the health needs of marginalised communities, particularly in the global South. As nanotech operates on the same scale as biology, its proponents are particularly enthusiastic about its potential to deliver uniquely effective treatments for diseases. However, the development of nanoenabled medicine and its potential to address global health needs must be examined in a larger socio-political context.
