Pub Date : 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00827-w
Claire Ashworth
An article in Science Advances reports a cryo-electron microscopy approach for the nanoscale imaging of dynamic interfaces in lithium metal batteries.
《科学进展》上的一篇文章报道了一种低温电子显微镜方法，用于锂金属电池动态界面的纳米级成像。
{"title":"Interfacial insight","authors":"Claire Ashworth","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00827-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00827-w","url":null,"abstract":"An article in Science Advances reports a cryo-electron microscopy approach for the nanoscale imaging of dynamic interfaces in lithium metal batteries.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 8","pages":"565-565"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144547512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00816-z
Yun Zhao, Hao Du, Yuqiong Kang, Jie Zhang, Bo Lan, Zhenyu Guo, Maria-Magdalena Titirici, Yunlong Zhao, Naser Tavajohi, Feiyu Kang, Baohua Li
Current lithium-ion battery recycling extracts valuable metals while discarding much of the battery’s leftover value. An emerging strategy called direct battery regeneration upends this model, restoring the battery’s performance without taking it apart — presenting a more efficient, sustainable option for end-of-life batteries.
{"title":"Spent battery regeneration for better recycling","authors":"Yun Zhao, Hao Du, Yuqiong Kang, Jie Zhang, Bo Lan, Zhenyu Guo, Maria-Magdalena Titirici, Yunlong Zhao, Naser Tavajohi, Feiyu Kang, Baohua Li","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00816-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00816-z","url":null,"abstract":"Current lithium-ion battery recycling extracts valuable metals while discarding much of the battery’s leftover value. An emerging strategy called direct battery regeneration upends this model, restoring the battery’s performance without taking it apart — presenting a more efficient, sustainable option for end-of-life batteries.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 10","pages":"722-724"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144520823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-27DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00811-4
Paul Wrede, Eva Remlova, Yi Chen, Xosé Luís Deán-Ben, Metin Sitti, Daniel Razansky
Medical microrobotics capitalizes on smart materials to target specific body sites effectively, precisely and locally, thus holding promise to revolutionize precision medicine in the future. Advances in material science and microfabrication or nanofabrication techniques have facilitated the implementation of a myriad of functionalities into microrobots. Efficient navigation and monitoring of microrobots within the highly dynamic and often inaccessible environment of living mammalian tissues is paramount for their effective in vivo applications and eventual clinical translation. This need calls for the deployment of biomedical imaging modalities with adequate sensitivity, penetration depth and spatiotemporal resolution, as well as for efficient integration of biocompatible contrast materials into microrobots. In this Review, we discuss emerging approaches for multiplexed imaging and actuation of microrobots within complex biological environments, focusing on the synergistic combination of responsive and contrasting materials to achieve desired morphological and functional properties, in vivo visibility and biosafety. The convergence between microrobotics and biomedical imaging paves the way for a new generation of medical microrobots enabling the use of energy for both mechanical actuation and efficient monitoring of their activity in vivo. Material selection has a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of medical microrobots. This Review highlights the synergy between contrast and responsive materials for real-time imaging and actuation in minimally invasive medical treatments.
{"title":"Synergistic integration of materials in medical microrobots for advanced imaging and actuation","authors":"Paul Wrede, Eva Remlova, Yi Chen, Xosé Luís Deán-Ben, Metin Sitti, Daniel Razansky","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00811-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00811-4","url":null,"abstract":"Medical microrobotics capitalizes on smart materials to target specific body sites effectively, precisely and locally, thus holding promise to revolutionize precision medicine in the future. Advances in material science and microfabrication or nanofabrication techniques have facilitated the implementation of a myriad of functionalities into microrobots. Efficient navigation and monitoring of microrobots within the highly dynamic and often inaccessible environment of living mammalian tissues is paramount for their effective in vivo applications and eventual clinical translation. This need calls for the deployment of biomedical imaging modalities with adequate sensitivity, penetration depth and spatiotemporal resolution, as well as for efficient integration of biocompatible contrast materials into microrobots. In this Review, we discuss emerging approaches for multiplexed imaging and actuation of microrobots within complex biological environments, focusing on the synergistic combination of responsive and contrasting materials to achieve desired morphological and functional properties, in vivo visibility and biosafety. The convergence between microrobotics and biomedical imaging paves the way for a new generation of medical microrobots enabling the use of energy for both mechanical actuation and efficient monitoring of their activity in vivo. Material selection has a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of medical microrobots. This Review highlights the synergy between contrast and responsive materials for real-time imaging and actuation in minimally invasive medical treatments.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 12","pages":"888-906"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144500785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-24DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00817-y
Ana C. C. Dutra, Benedek A. Goldmann, M. Saiful Islam, James A. Dawson
Solid-state batteries that use solid electrolytes are attracting interest for their potential safety, stability and high energy density, making them ideal for next-generation technologies including electric vehicles and grid-scale renewable energy storage. Advances in solid electrolytes require the design and optimization of current and new materials, informed by a deeper understanding of their properties on the atomic and nanoscale. This Review highlights progress in using atomistic modelling and machine learning techniques to gain valuable insights into inorganic crystalline solid electrolytes for lithium-based and sodium-based batteries. We discuss computational studies on oxide, sulfide and halide materials that examine three fundamental properties critical to their performance as solid electrolytes: fast-ion conduction mechanisms, interfacial effects and chemical stability. The resulting insights help to identify design strategies for the future development of improved solid-state batteries. Solid-state battery electrolytes offer the potential for enhanced safety, stability and energy density in both current and future technologies. This Review discusses the vital role that atomistic modelling and machine learning techniques continue to play in understanding and improving inorganic crystalline solid electrolytes for lithium-based and sodium-based batteries.
{"title":"Understanding solid-state battery electrolytes using atomistic modelling and machine learning","authors":"Ana C. C. Dutra, Benedek A. Goldmann, M. Saiful Islam, James A. Dawson","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00817-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00817-y","url":null,"abstract":"Solid-state batteries that use solid electrolytes are attracting interest for their potential safety, stability and high energy density, making them ideal for next-generation technologies including electric vehicles and grid-scale renewable energy storage. Advances in solid electrolytes require the design and optimization of current and new materials, informed by a deeper understanding of their properties on the atomic and nanoscale. This Review highlights progress in using atomistic modelling and machine learning techniques to gain valuable insights into inorganic crystalline solid electrolytes for lithium-based and sodium-based batteries. We discuss computational studies on oxide, sulfide and halide materials that examine three fundamental properties critical to their performance as solid electrolytes: fast-ion conduction mechanisms, interfacial effects and chemical stability. The resulting insights help to identify design strategies for the future development of improved solid-state batteries. Solid-state battery electrolytes offer the potential for enhanced safety, stability and energy density in both current and future technologies. This Review discusses the vital role that atomistic modelling and machine learning techniques continue to play in understanding and improving inorganic crystalline solid electrolytes for lithium-based and sodium-based batteries.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 8","pages":"566-583"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144479162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Developing high-performance rechargeable batteries requires a revolutionary advancement in battery materials, guided by a fundamental understanding of their underlying science and mechanisms. However, this task remains a challenge owing to the complex relationship among composition, structure and property in electrode and electrolyte materials. Ionic potential, a concept derived from geochemistry, has been incorporated into battery materials research since 2020 as a methodology for predicting and optimizing their functional properties. Defined as the ratio of charge number of an ion to its ionic radius, ionic potential serves as a measure of the interaction strength within the structure of a material. In this Perspective, we explore the role of ionic potential in guiding the design of advanced materials for rechargeable batteries. Specifically, we discuss how integrating ionic potential into material design frameworks can capture critical structural interactions, thereby enabling improvements in properties such as ionic conductivity, redox activity and phase transition behaviours. Furthermore, we identify the broader relevance of ionic potential in battery systems, highlighting its potential in advancing fundamental understanding and performance capabilities in battery technology. Advancing high-performance rechargeable batteries requires a deep understanding of the complex relationships among material composition, structure and property. This Perspective highlights the emerging role of ionic potential, defined as the charge-to-radius ratio of an ion, in guiding the design and optimization of battery materials.
{"title":"Ionic potential for battery materials","authors":"Qidi Wang, Yong-Sheng Hu, Hong Li, Hui-Ming Cheng, Tianshou Zhao, Chenglong Zhao","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00822-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00822-1","url":null,"abstract":"Developing high-performance rechargeable batteries requires a revolutionary advancement in battery materials, guided by a fundamental understanding of their underlying science and mechanisms. However, this task remains a challenge owing to the complex relationship among composition, structure and property in electrode and electrolyte materials. Ionic potential, a concept derived from geochemistry, has been incorporated into battery materials research since 2020 as a methodology for predicting and optimizing their functional properties. Defined as the ratio of charge number of an ion to its ionic radius, ionic potential serves as a measure of the interaction strength within the structure of a material. In this Perspective, we explore the role of ionic potential in guiding the design of advanced materials for rechargeable batteries. Specifically, we discuss how integrating ionic potential into material design frameworks can capture critical structural interactions, thereby enabling improvements in properties such as ionic conductivity, redox activity and phase transition behaviours. Furthermore, we identify the broader relevance of ionic potential in battery systems, highlighting its potential in advancing fundamental understanding and performance capabilities in battery technology. Advancing high-performance rechargeable batteries requires a deep understanding of the complex relationships among material composition, structure and property. This Perspective highlights the emerging role of ionic potential, defined as the charge-to-radius ratio of an ion, in guiding the design and optimization of battery materials.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 9","pages":"697-712"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144370468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-23DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00819-w
Hye Jin Kim, Ja Hoon Koo, Seunghwan Lee, Taeghwan Hyeon, Dae-Hyeong Kim
Advancements in bioelectronics are revolutionizing traditional healthcare by shifting the focus from in-hospital disease diagnosis and treatment to at-home continuous preventive care. This transformation integrates real-time health monitoring and point-of-care interventional therapies and enables artificial intelligence-based health management strategies. However, the mechanical mismatch between rigid bioelectronic devices and soft biological tissues presents important challenges, particularly in long-term applications, including poor adhesion, tissue degeneration, high noise level, signal interference and device instability. To address these challenges, soft bioelectronics — leveraging high-performance, tissue-mimicking and mechanically soft materials — has emerged as a disruptive solution. This Review highlights advancements in materials design and system-level integration strategies for soft bioelectronics, driving the development of next-generation digital healthcare technologies. We categorize materials design approaches, introduce fabrication techniques for soft bioelectronics and explore integration methods. Furthermore, we showcase applications of wearable and implantable soft bioelectronics, demonstrating their potential for continuous health monitoring and therapeutic interventions, ultimately enabling closed-loop health management. Rigid wearable and implantable bioelectronic devices present mechanical mismatches with soft biological tissues that limit their applicability. This Review systematically outlines materials and integration strategies for soft bioelectronic devices that overcome this mismatch and have the potential to enable continuous health monitoring, therapeutic interventions and closed-loop healthcare.
{"title":"Materials design and integration strategies for soft bioelectronics in digital healthcare","authors":"Hye Jin Kim, Ja Hoon Koo, Seunghwan Lee, Taeghwan Hyeon, Dae-Hyeong Kim","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00819-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00819-w","url":null,"abstract":"Advancements in bioelectronics are revolutionizing traditional healthcare by shifting the focus from in-hospital disease diagnosis and treatment to at-home continuous preventive care. This transformation integrates real-time health monitoring and point-of-care interventional therapies and enables artificial intelligence-based health management strategies. However, the mechanical mismatch between rigid bioelectronic devices and soft biological tissues presents important challenges, particularly in long-term applications, including poor adhesion, tissue degeneration, high noise level, signal interference and device instability. To address these challenges, soft bioelectronics — leveraging high-performance, tissue-mimicking and mechanically soft materials — has emerged as a disruptive solution. This Review highlights advancements in materials design and system-level integration strategies for soft bioelectronics, driving the development of next-generation digital healthcare technologies. We categorize materials design approaches, introduce fabrication techniques for soft bioelectronics and explore integration methods. Furthermore, we showcase applications of wearable and implantable soft bioelectronics, demonstrating their potential for continuous health monitoring and therapeutic interventions, ultimately enabling closed-loop health management. Rigid wearable and implantable bioelectronic devices present mechanical mismatches with soft biological tissues that limit their applicability. This Review systematically outlines materials and integration strategies for soft bioelectronic devices that overcome this mismatch and have the potential to enable continuous health monitoring, therapeutic interventions and closed-loop healthcare.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 9","pages":"654-673"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144341368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00814-1
Roy van der Meel, Paul A. Wender, Olivia M. Merkel, Irene Lostalé-Seijo, Javier Montenegro, Ali Miserez, Quentin Laurent, Hanadi Sleiman, Paola Luciani
Efficient and targeted delivery of nucleic acids is critical for realizing the full therapeutic potential of gene editing, vaccines and RNA-based drugs, and emerging delivery platforms offer innovative solutions through their diverse architectures, tunable properties and distinct biological interactions. In this Viewpoint, researchers working across different delivery platforms — including lipid nanoparticles, synthetic polymers, peptide amphiphiles, coacervate microdroplets, DNA nanostructures and extracellular vesicles — discuss the most promising directions and the main challenges in shaping the future of nucleic acid delivery.
{"title":"Next-generation materials for nucleic acid delivery","authors":"Roy van der Meel, Paul A. Wender, Olivia M. Merkel, Irene Lostalé-Seijo, Javier Montenegro, Ali Miserez, Quentin Laurent, Hanadi Sleiman, Paola Luciani","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00814-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00814-1","url":null,"abstract":"Efficient and targeted delivery of nucleic acids is critical for realizing the full therapeutic potential of gene editing, vaccines and RNA-based drugs, and emerging delivery platforms offer innovative solutions through their diverse architectures, tunable properties and distinct biological interactions. In this Viewpoint, researchers working across different delivery platforms — including lipid nanoparticles, synthetic polymers, peptide amphiphiles, coacervate microdroplets, DNA nanostructures and extracellular vesicles — discuss the most promising directions and the main challenges in shaping the future of nucleic acid delivery.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 7","pages":"490-499"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144296065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00815-0
Jesse Kok, Petru P. Albertini, Jari Leemans, Raffaella Buonsanti, Thomas Burdyny
Copper and copper-based catalysts can electrochemically convert CO2 into ethylene and higher alcohols, among other products, at room temperature and pressure. This approach may be suitable for the production of high-value compounds. However, such a promising reaction is heavily burdened by the instability of copper during CO2 reduction. To date, non-copper catalysts have also failed to supplant the activity and selectivity of copper, leaving CO2-to-C2 electrolysis in the balance. In this Perspective, we discuss copper catalyst instability from both the atomistic and the microstructure viewpoint. We motivate that increased fundamental understanding, material design and operational approaches, along with increased reporting of failure mechanisms, will contribute to overcoming the barriers to multi-year operation. Our narrative focuses on the copper catalyst reconstruction occurring during CO2 reduction as one of the major causes inducing loss of C2 activity. We conclude with a rational path forward towards longer operations of CO2-to-C2 electrolysis. Copper is the only electrocatalyst that converts carbon dioxide into multi-carbon products with ease, but it remains notoriously unstable. This Perspective explores the current state-of-the-art understanding of copper degradation mechanisms and uses these insights to motivate both atomistic and system-level approaches to overcome stability challenges.
{"title":"Overcoming copper stability challenges in CO2 electrolysis","authors":"Jesse Kok, Petru P. Albertini, Jari Leemans, Raffaella Buonsanti, Thomas Burdyny","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00815-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00815-0","url":null,"abstract":"Copper and copper-based catalysts can electrochemically convert CO2 into ethylene and higher alcohols, among other products, at room temperature and pressure. This approach may be suitable for the production of high-value compounds. However, such a promising reaction is heavily burdened by the instability of copper during CO2 reduction. To date, non-copper catalysts have also failed to supplant the activity and selectivity of copper, leaving CO2-to-C2 electrolysis in the balance. In this Perspective, we discuss copper catalyst instability from both the atomistic and the microstructure viewpoint. We motivate that increased fundamental understanding, material design and operational approaches, along with increased reporting of failure mechanisms, will contribute to overcoming the barriers to multi-year operation. Our narrative focuses on the copper catalyst reconstruction occurring during CO2 reduction as one of the major causes inducing loss of C2 activity. We conclude with a rational path forward towards longer operations of CO2-to-C2 electrolysis. Copper is the only electrocatalyst that converts carbon dioxide into multi-carbon products with ease, but it remains notoriously unstable. This Perspective explores the current state-of-the-art understanding of copper degradation mechanisms and uses these insights to motivate both atomistic and system-level approaches to overcome stability challenges.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 7","pages":"550-563"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144296063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1038/s41578-025-00818-x
Tania Patiño Padial, Shuqin Chen, Ana C. Hortelão, Ayusman Sen, Samuel Sánchez
Living organisms, from single cells to multicellular systems, are capable of moving as a response to local stimuli using swarming intelligence, a trait researchers aim to replicate in artificial systems. Common strategies observed in natural swarms include motility towards specific signals from the environment, communication among individual units, coordination and cooperation to achieve complex tasks. Inspired by these features, the focus in bioinspired motile nanosystems has shifted from studying individual units to exploring and controlling collective behaviours. Various propulsion mechanisms including magnetic, electric or acoustic fields, as well as onboard chemical reactions, have enabled artificial micromotor and nanomotor (MNM) swarms that can move collectively as a response to environmental inputs. The controlled navigation and improved tissue penetration of MNM swarms is promising within the biomedical field, including in the active transport of medical agents. Despite these exciting advances, artificial MNMs still fall short of the complexity and autonomy seen in biological systems. This Perspective explores the collective behaviour of biological swarms and bioinspired artificial self-propelled nanosystems. We discuss how swarming intelligence applied to synthetic active nanosystems enables swarms to perform various tasks. Finally, we discuss challenges, including material limitations, information storage, communication between swarms and prospects for intelligent swarming systems. Biological swarming behaviours inspire artificial motile nanosystems. This Perspective highlights recent advances in swarm navigation and biomedical applications, while addressing challenges such as communication, control and material constraints in developing intelligent synthetic swarms.
{"title":"Swarming intelligence in self-propelled micromotors and nanomotors","authors":"Tania Patiño Padial, Shuqin Chen, Ana C. Hortelão, Ayusman Sen, Samuel Sánchez","doi":"10.1038/s41578-025-00818-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41578-025-00818-x","url":null,"abstract":"Living organisms, from single cells to multicellular systems, are capable of moving as a response to local stimuli using swarming intelligence, a trait researchers aim to replicate in artificial systems. Common strategies observed in natural swarms include motility towards specific signals from the environment, communication among individual units, coordination and cooperation to achieve complex tasks. Inspired by these features, the focus in bioinspired motile nanosystems has shifted from studying individual units to exploring and controlling collective behaviours. Various propulsion mechanisms including magnetic, electric or acoustic fields, as well as onboard chemical reactions, have enabled artificial micromotor and nanomotor (MNM) swarms that can move collectively as a response to environmental inputs. The controlled navigation and improved tissue penetration of MNM swarms is promising within the biomedical field, including in the active transport of medical agents. Despite these exciting advances, artificial MNMs still fall short of the complexity and autonomy seen in biological systems. This Perspective explores the collective behaviour of biological swarms and bioinspired artificial self-propelled nanosystems. We discuss how swarming intelligence applied to synthetic active nanosystems enables swarms to perform various tasks. Finally, we discuss challenges, including material limitations, information storage, communication between swarms and prospects for intelligent swarming systems. Biological swarming behaviours inspire artificial motile nanosystems. This Perspective highlights recent advances in swarm navigation and biomedical applications, while addressing challenges such as communication, control and material constraints in developing intelligent synthetic swarms.","PeriodicalId":19081,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Materials","volume":"10 12","pages":"947-963"},"PeriodicalIF":86.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144288497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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