Nanoparticles with cores composed of inorganic materials such as noble, magnetic metals, their alloys and oxides, and semiconductors have been most studied and have vast potential for application in many different areas of biomedicine, from diagnostics to treatment of diseases. The effects of nanoparticles must be predictable and controllable, and deliver the desired result with minimum cytotoxicity. These criteria can be met by careful tailoring of the ligand shell, allowing stabilisation, specific targeting and recognition of biochemical species. For these reasons, this review is focused on the synthesis and biofunctionalisation of inorganic metal, semiconductor and magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.