The present disclosure, among other things, provides new technologies for preparation of medical isotope labeled metal(loid) chalcogen nanoparticles for use in medical imaging and/or therapeutic applications. Provided technologies show a number of advantages as compared with previously available options for preparing and utilizing medical isotopes, including, for example, they utilize metal(loid) chalcogen nanoparticles that serve as universal binders (e.g., via covalent or non-covalent (e.g., chelate) bonds) for medical isotopes to provide medical isotope labeled metal(loid) chalcogen nanoparticles. Surprisingly, the same metal(loid) chalcogen nanoparticles may be used to bind (e.g., covalent or non-covalent e.g., chelation) bonding) a wide variety of different useful medical isotopes without the use of traditional chelating agents.