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The researchers of Magna Graecia, Italy and the University of Texas in Houston, with other Italian universities, are involved in the development of silicon-based nanoporous particles for medical use. These are micrometer and submicrometer hemispherical particles fabricated following standard photolithographic procedures and made porous by anodization in an electrolytic solution. An injection of these tiny drug-carrying devices directly into the blood is able to find tumors and treat only diseased cells would avoid many of the side effects of chemotherapy. Two main categories of drug delivery devices, implantable devices and circulating devices, and two delivery strategies can be followed, vascular targeting and tumor microenvironment targeting, based on the use of nanoparticles. Researchers are also working to develop nanoparticles smaller than blood cells to identify biomarkers and diagnose diseases in earlier stage.