Next generation therapies based on recent advances in nanotechnology have the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of a multitude of diseases.  Smart nanoparticles with mechanisms for stealthing, imaging, targeting, and activated release of cargos incorporated directly into carrier design have begun to emerge.  These multifaceted nanocarriers aim to alleviate some of the undesirable side effects induced by systemic administration of therapeutics and to provide new avenues for monitoring biological processes in vivo, with potential feedback mechanisms allowing the carrier to respond in a predefined manner. Our reserach probes fundamental aspects of carrier function and uses that knowledge in the rational design of more effective drug delivery systems.