The highly tunable physical and optical properties and the ability to bind an ever expanding library of ligands have catapulted nanoparticles into nearly every discipline of scientific research. As nanoparticles inch closer to being fully deployed at the clinical level, some of the recent advances in the applications of nanoparticles in medicine are reviewed. From imaging and diagnostics to therapy and treatment, a variety of nanoparticles are presented along with their physical and optical properties to be used in a diverse array of medical applications. While other reviews are tailored to specific applications or to single nanoparticle types, this review aims to offer a more widespread view on visualization, diagnosis and treatment of disease with various types of nanoparticles.