Advanced nanostructured materials, such as gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and multifunctional materials, are nowadays used in many state-of-the-art biomedical application. However, although the engineering in this field is very advanced, there remain some fundamental problems involving the interaction mechanisms between nanostructures and cells or tissues. Here we show the potential of 1H-NMR in the investigation of the uptake of two different kinds of nanostructures i.e. maghemite and gold nanoparticles, and of a chemotherapy drug (temozolomide), in glioblastoma tumor cells. The proposed experimental protocol provides a new way to investigate the general problem of cellular uptake for a variety of biocompatible nanostructures and drugs.