Applications of Nanotechnology in Athletic and Exercise Performance: A Scoping Review

Nanotechnology, the science of materials engineered at the 1–100 nanometer (nm) scale, is increasingly applied across domains relevant to elite sport, including equipment engineering, wearable biosensing, nanoparticle-based supplementation, photobiomodulation (PBM) nanotechnology, and quantum dot (QD)-enabled diagnostics; however, the aggregate impact of these applications on measurable athletic performance outcomes remains poorly synthesized. This systematic scoping review, conducted and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR, aimed to map and characterize available evidence on nanotechnological applications relevant to athletic and exercise performance across six domains: carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced equipment, nano-antioxidant supplementation, nanoparticle-based nutrient delivery, wearable nanosensors, PBM nanotechnology, and QD-based biosensing. A systematic search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science (inception to 15 June 2026). Eligibility was assessed through four evidence strata: Stratum 1, RCTs and controlled studies in human participants of any training status (direct controlled human evidence; stratum classification determined by study design; population training status recorded as a separate determinant of interpretive generalizability within the stratum); Stratum 2, observational and experimental studies in healthy humans; Stratum 3, validated animal exercise models (restricted a priori to the nano-supplementation domain); and Stratum 4, subdivided into Stratum 4a (systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative/comprehensive reviews) and Stratum 4b (materials science studies). Quality appraisal was performed using study-design-specific tools (RoB 2, NOS, SYRCLE, AMSTAR-2, structured narrative frameworks). No formal GRADE certainty-of-evidence assessment was performed. A total of 28 records met inclusion criteria: 12 primary studies across Strata 1–3 and 16 secondary or contextual records in Stratum 4. Direct controlled human evidence (Strata 1–2) was identified for CNT-based insoles, Taopatch® PBM devices, and CNT motion sensors; animal model evidence (Stratum 3) was consistent for nano-antioxidant strategies; and Stratum 4 provided contextual technical and mechanistic framing. No Stratum 1 study applied QDs to elite athletes in vivo. Nanotechnology demonstrates theoretical and emerging translational potential across several domains relevant to athletic and exercise performance; however, direct evidence of meaningful performance enhancement in trained or elite athletes remains very limited. Adequately powered double-blind RCTs in elite athletes, independent nanomaterial characterization, and prospective protocol registration are required before clinical recommendations can be formulated.