Nanotags are small, unobtrusive sensors used to track movement, detect contamination, and identify changes in material composition. Already in use to observe and track wildlife for research purposes, nano tagging can be applied to just about anything and used for a variety of applications.

In medicine, nano tagging is expected to be used as a noninvasive means to track stem cells and could be developed as an early warning system for disease. In industry, nano tagging is expected to be used to tag and monitor a variety of items, whether to improve supply chain efficiency or monitor products for contamination.