© 2018 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. One of the key challenges in biology and medicine has been molecular analysis of single living cells aimed at providing an understanding of the underlying complex mechanisms in the basic, structural, and functional unit of life. This is important in understanding the normal development of cells, how cells respond to external stimuli, and how cells progress from normal to pathological states. About a decade ago, we envisioned and expressed that the application of nanotechnology to molecular and cell biology and medicine would revolutionize the way in which we study cells, signaling networks, and physiological processes, as well as diseases such as cancer.