The human body is designed to rid itself of foreign materials. That makes medical implants, which often need to have a useful life in the body that's measured in decades, a pernicious challenge for industry. The business is littered with examples of implant or treatment device surfaces or coatings that have later proven to cause problems for patients.

Nanotechnology's time ascendant at the peak of the hype cycle is past. But that doesn't mean the hard work of basic science and translation into industry isn't getting done. Since 2001, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) said more than $25 billion has been invested by the U.S. government into nanotechnology. That massive investment is starting to pay off in developments that benefit various industries, including med tech and biotech.

The FDA has tasked drug developers to try to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's before symptoms start to appear. That approach is expected to enhance efficacy in a field that remains long-challenged. One of the hardest parts is finding those patients as early as possible to treat them in trials with promising clinical candidates.