Reviews & Analysis

Immune interactions are complex, dynamic and difficult to capture using static imaging modalities on in vitro or ex vivo tissue cultures. In this Review, the authors discuss techniques for in vivo imaging of the immune system including one-photon near-infrared II fluorescence and two-photon and multiphoton microscopy for longitudinal tracking of immune cells, as well as a translational path that integrates near-infrared II, positron-emission tomography or MRI and artificial intelligence-enabled analysis towards quantitative, clinically compatible, multimodal immuno-imaging.

mRNA technologies offer potential solutions for HIV-1 vaccine development by enabling rapid, safe and modular antigen design that can initiate rare antibody lineages required for broad protection. In this Review, we discuss preclinical and early clinical evidence, outline remaining challenges — particularly breadth and durability — and discuss delivery and manufacturing advances that may help translate these approaches into effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Organoids offer physiologically relevant 3D models, yet translating them into clinical and industrial use requires robust analytical platforms. In this Review, key strategies for characterizing electrophysiological, biophysical and optical properties are discussed, alongside the integration of omics and computational technologies to decode organoid function and behaviour.

Delivering drugs directly to the lungs enables targeted treatment and long-term drug retention, while minimizing systemic side effects. This Review explores the design of microrobotic platforms engineered for pulmonary drug delivery.

Mechanical forces are crucial regulators of biological functions in health and disease, offering measurable biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This Review introduces the principles of mechanomedicine and highlights its translational potential across scales, from tissue diagnostics to molecular mechanotherapeutics.

Continuous neuromonitoring is vital for guiding neurocritical care, yet artefacts frequently obscure cerebral physiological signals and hinder clinical decisions. In this Review, sources of artefacts and their clinical impact are examined, alongside emerging strategies — both knowledge-based and data-driven — for artefact mitigation, sensor design and artificial intelligence-enabled real-time monitoring in precision neurocare.

Cellulose crystals can be engineered at the molecular level, creating porous structures consisting of aligned, functionalized nanochannels. This approach enables the development of advanced materials with directional ion transport and antimicrobial properties for applications such as thermoelectric devices, solid-state batteries and long-lasting antimicrobial textiles.

Droplet microfluidics enables the precise fabrication of microgels, which are microscale hydrogel particles that serve as modular building blocks for biomaterials. This Review outlines principles of microfluidic microgel production, strategies for tailoring structure and functionality, and applications spanning drug delivery, cell culture and tissue engineering, while highlighting current challenges and future directions.

This Review explores the multifunctional roles of hyaluronic acid in wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration, with a focus on medical product development. By linking hyaluronic acid’s molecular interactions with regulatory classification(s), this report provides a conceptual framework for optimizing and evaluating future indications, including hyaluronic acid’s potential for treatment of traumatic skeletal muscle injuries.

Nano-bio interfaces enable communication between synthetic materials and biological systems at the nanoscale, with their functionality shaped by material properties, surface chemistry and topography. This Review discusses the key considerations and methods for engineering nano-bio interfaces for bioelectrical signal detection and biochemical signal transduction.

Early cancer biology and detection research is limited owing to a lack of clinical samples from pre-malignant and early-stage tumours. This Review discusses engineered in vitro systems that mimic early disease stages to investigate tumour progression and identify biomarkers for early cancer detection.

Bacteria can be engineered as biosensors for the detection and analysis of DNA in unpurified samples. This Review examines the engineering of bacterial DNA biosensors, highlighting performance metrics and applications in comparison with in vitro DNA biosensors.

Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) achieve specific target recognition, molecular binding and catalytic activity by folding into defined secondary and tertiary structures. This Review focuses on two major classes of FNAs — aptamers and DNAzymes — and discusses their structural features, production strategies and engineering approaches as well as their clinical applications in diagnostics, targeted therapy and precision medicine.

This Review discusses sex-related differences in brain disorders and surveys in vitro models, including 2D and 3D organ-on-a-chip technologies. It emphasizes the need to address sex-related differences in brain research, which remain under researched in 2025.

Cells convert mechanical forces into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction, a process which can now be synthetically engineered. In this Review, we examine engineered artificial mechanotransduction mechanisms, from gene circuits responsive to mechanical cues to synthetic force-generating systems that reshape tissue behaviour and cellular function.

Bioelectronic devices enable real-time monitoring, diagnosis and treatment by blending biological processes with electronic technology. This Review examines the material property landscape of low-dimensional materials in bioelectronic systems by device component, emphasizing their role in enabling the development of miniaturized bioelectronic platforms for wireless and connected health-care applications.

Living organisms surpass robots in durability and adaptability. This Review explores animal and plant energy-saving strategies to inspire resilient, low-energy robots and emphasizes the cost of transport as a key metric in relation to the durability of various movement modalities.

Microbial synthetic biology might greatly benefit from the application of non-model organisms, which have been evolutionarily optimized for the production of specific proteins and metabolites. This Review discusses the design and application of endogenous production in non-model organisms.

Soft robotic systems can be integrated into wearable technologies, offering adaptable and safe solutions for assistance, rehabilitation and haptic feedback. This Review explores key soft actuator technologies, integration strategies and the role of sustainability in enabling personalized, energy-efficient and durable wearable soft robotic devices.

Metastasis remains difficult to treat owing to the heterogeneity of metastatic cancer cells and the various dynamic steps of the metastatic cascade. This Review discusses the design of nanomedicines for the specific treatment of metastasis.