N Nature Nanotechnology · Dec 05, 2025 Interpretation of the binding energy shifts in the Mo 3dcore-level XPS spectra of molybdenene arising fromT. K. Satu et al.Nature Nanotechnologyhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01484-2(2023) Characterization and analytical techniques Electronic properties and materials Techniques and instrumentation Two-dimensional materials
N Nature Nanotechnology · Dec 05, 2025 Bioengineered photosynthetic nanothylakoids reshape the inflammatory microenvironment for rheumatoid arthritis therapy Reducing individual inflammatory factors does not always translate into clinical efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation. Proinflammatory M1 macrophages are a key driver of the hyperinflammatory joint microenvironment, which also promotes the progression of RA. Here we show that folate-receptor-targeted photosynthetic nanothylakoid (FA-PEG-NTK)-based phototherapy reprogrammes macrophages from M1 to anti-inflammatory M2, and successfully remodels the inflammatory RA microenvironment. The nanothylakoids were sourced from plant-derived thylakoids and developed by surface modification with distearoyl phosphoethanolamine–polyethylene glycol (PEG) via hydrophobic interactions to preserve their photocatalytic enzymes. We show that upon light irradiation in a mouse macrophage model of inflammation, the FA-PEG-NTK system generates oxygen and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, alleviating hypoxia and reducing reactive oxygen species. This rebalances the oxidative stress in M1 macrophages, thereby remodelling the inflammatory microenvironment in RA. We also show that in a collagen-induced arthritis rat model, FA-PEG-NTK-mediated phototherapy notably alleviated synovial hyperplasia and enhanced bone and cartilage regeneration, outperforming the clinical treatment methotrexate, with no apparent side effects. Biomedical engineering Drug delivery Nanostructures Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine biology mouse experiments
N Nature Nanotechnology · Dec 04, 2025 Geometry-induced spin chirality in a non-chiral ferromagnet at zero field Spin chirality is a fundamental property that manifests non-reciprocal transport—magnetochiral anisotropy (MChA). However, the application of MChA in technology is constrained by the necessity for an external magnetic field, complex non-centrosymmetric crystal synthesis and cryogenic environments. Here we overcome these challenges by imprinting geometric chirality onto a nickel tube via three-dimensional nanoengineering. We use two-photon lithography to create a structurally twisted polymeric template with micrometre-sized pitch and diameters and cover it with a uniform 30-nm-thick nickel shell. The nickel tube exhibits spontaneous MChA—non-reciprocal transport at zero magnetic field and room temperature. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism microscopy confirms helical spin textures stabilized by the torsion- and curvature-engineered shape anisotropy, while inelastic light scattering spectroscopy demonstrates robust non-reciprocal magnon transport at remanence, reconfigurable via magnetic field history. The chiral parameter in our device surpasses that of natural chiral magnets such as Cu2OSeO3. Analytical theory and micromagnetic simulations demonstrate that the non-reciprocity is further enhanced by downscaling the feature sizes. Our results establish a scalable, geometry-driven nanotechnology that imprints spin chirality on non-chiral ferromagnets and may enable nanoscale integration of chirality-enhanced magnonics and spintronics for real-world use cases. Magnetic devices Magnetic properties and materials Spintronics other
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 17, 2025 Efficient CO2-to-methanol electrocatalysis in acidic media via microenvironment-tuned cobalt phthalocyanine Electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals in strong acids can mitigate carbon loss and the operational cost of CO2reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, molecular catalysis for CO2RR is typically conducted in neutral or alkaline environments. CO2RR in acidic media is challenged by the scarcity of catalyst candidates, competitive hydrogen evolution and slow product formation. Here we report a locally ionic yet simultaneously hydrophobic and aerophilic layered structure that modulates the microenvironment surrounding cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) molecular catalysts, enabling efficient, multielectron CO2RR in acidic media. Experiment and theoretical modelling reveal that the polarized electrostatic field arising from the cationic groups suppresses hydronium migration. Concurrently, the van der Waals forces between the reactant gas and alkyl groups improve local CO availability, combining to achieve a methanol partial current density of 132 mA cm−2with 62% selectivity at a pH of ~1 and –1.37 VRHEfor CoPc, exceeding previous reports on neutral or alkaline electrolytes. The improved CO coverage also enables the detection of *CHO and *CO intermediates from in situ spectroscopy. We validate our strategy on various molecules, which champion the efficient inhibition of hydrogen evolution and improved CO2RR partial current density in acidic media. CoPc-based layered structure with similar ionic, hydrophobic and aerophilic interfaces also yields comparable methanol productivity. Electrocatalysis Molecular dynamics
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 17, 2025 Nanoengineered aqueous-hydrotrope hybrid liquid electrolyte solutions for efficient zinc batteries across a wide temperature range Aqueous zinc metal batteries are ideal candidates for grid storage applications. However, their practical application is hindered by a narrow operating temperature range and a limited electrolyte electrochemical stability window, both of which can be attributed to the water activity. Here, to minimize water activity in the electrolyte solution, we introduce a nanoengineered approach in which the water molecules are confined within a hydrophilic–hydrophobic water solvation sheath. The hydrogen-bond interaction with the hydrophilic groups in the inner solvation layer effectively suppresses water decomposition, and the hydrophobic solvents in the outer solvation layer establish a repulsive effect against water molecules. As a proof of concept, a hydrophobic and non-polar hydrofluoroether cosolvent is introduced into a Zn-ion aqueous electrolyte solution and tested together with various fluorinated hydrotrope molecules to favour the compatibility of the cosolvent with water. By such a water confinement strategy, an average Zn plating/stripping reversibility of 99.92% is achieved for over 4,000 cycles at 2.0 mA cm−2and 2.0 mAh cm−2in a Zn||Cu coin cell configuration. When tested in a Zn||VOPO4·2H2O lab-scale cell configuration, the selected aqueous-hydrotrope hybrid electrolyte solution enables long-lasting and highly reversible battery performance across temperatures from −80 °C to +60 °C. Analytical chemistry Batteries Electrochemistry Energy storage Materials for energy and catalysis
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 17, 2025 All-optical modulation with single photons using an electron avalanche The distinctive characteristics of light, such as high-speed and low-loss propagation, low crosstalk and low power consumption, along with the unique quantum properties of photons, make it most suitable for various applications in communications, high-resolution imaging, optical computing and quantum information technologies. One limiting factor, however, is the weak optical nonlinearity of conventional media, which poses challenges for controlling light at ultralow intensities. Here we demonstrate all-optical modulation of the refractive index enabled by the electron avalanche process in silicon using a control beam with single-photon light intensities. The observed process corresponds to an extremely high nonlinear refractive index of\({n}_{2}\approx 1.3\times {10}^{-2}\,{{\rm{m}}}^{2}\,{{\rm{W}}}^{-1}\), which is several orders of magnitude higher than those of the best-known nonlinear optical materials. Using single photons for light modulation opens the possibility of gigahertz-frequency—and potentially even faster—optical switching for on-chip photonic and quantum devices operating at room temperature. Nonlinear optics Photonic devices Quantum optics Silicon photonics
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 14, 2025 Nanoscale domains govern local diffusion and ageing within fused-in-sarcoma condensates Biomolecular condensates regulate cellular physiology by sequestering and processing RNAs and proteins, yet how these processes are locally tuned within condensates remains unclear. Moreover, in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, condensates undergo liquid-to-solid phase transitions, but capturing early intermediates in this process has been challenging. Here we present a surface multi-tethering approach to achieve intra-condensate single-molecule tracking of fluorescently labelled RNA and protein molecules within liquid-like condensates. Using RNA-binding protein fused-in-sarcoma as a model for condensates implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we discover that RNA and protein diffusion is confined within distinct nanometre-scale domains, or nanodomains, which exhibit unique connectivity and chemical environments. The properties of these nanodomains are tunable by guest molecules. As condensates age, nanodomains reposition, facilitating fused-in-sarcoma fibrilization at the condensate surface, a process further enhanced by anti-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drugs. Our findings demonstrate that nanodomain formation governs condensate function by modulating the residence time and spatial organization of constituent biomolecules, providing previously unattainable insights into condensate ageing and mechanisms underlying disease. Molecular self-assembly Nanoparticles
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 11, 2025 Lumen charge governs gated ion transport in β-barrel nanopores β-Barrel nanopores are involved in crucial biological processes, from ATP export in mitochondria to bacterial resistance, and represent a promising platform for emerging sequencing technologies. However, in contrast to ion channels, the understanding of the fundamental principles governing ion transport through these nanopores remains largely unexplored. Here we integrate experimental, numerical and theoretical approaches to elucidate ion transport mechanisms in β-barrel nanopores. We identify and characterize two distinct nonlinear phenomena: open-pore rectification and gating. Through extensive mutation analysis of aerolysin nanopores, we demonstrate that open-pore rectification is caused by ionic accumulation driven by the distribution of lumen charges. In addition, we provide converging evidence suggesting that gating is controlled by electric fields dissociating counterions from lumen charges, promoting local structural deformations. Our findings establish a rigorous framework for characterizing and understanding ion transport processes in protein-based nanopores, enabling the design of adaptable nanofluidic biotechnologies. We illustrate this by optimizing an aerolysin mutant for computing applications. Bionanoelectronics Electrical and electronic engineering Nanopores
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 07, 2025 Degradable cyclic amino alcohol ionizable lipids as vectors for potent influenza mRNA vaccines The next generation of mRNA vaccines must address several limitations, including enhancing vaccine potency and reducing toxicity. Here we develop a class of degradable, cyclic amino ionizable lipids via sequential combinatorial chemistry and rational design. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) formulated with the top-performing ionizable lipid, AMG1541, elicited similar protective neutralization antibody titres against an H3 influenza antigen when compared with the FDA-approved ionizable lipid SM-102 at a 100-fold lower dose, with enhanced clearance in vivo. AMG1541 mRNA LNPs substantially reduced expression in the liver following intramuscular injection, mitigating the associated toxicity. We also observed improved mRNA delivery to antigen-presenting cells at the injection site and the draining lymph node, leading to stronger germinal centre reactions. Structure–activity relationship studies suggest that cyclic headgroups and β-amino alcohols facilitate interactions with the mRNA backbone and enhance endosomal escape. The formulations developed here significantly enhance the potency of mRNA vaccines, and our structural insights may guide the development of next-generation vaccine delivery systems. Chemical engineering Nanoparticles
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 05, 2025 Supramolecular chemical recycling of dynamic polymers Current chemical approaches for recycling synthetic plastics rely on either catalytic reactions to break covalent bonds or introducing weaker bonds in the plastic structure. In the former approach, depolymerization remains an energetically demanding step due to the thermodynamic stability of the plastic, whereas in the latter approach, the recyclability of plastic usually compromises mechanical properties. Here we present a supramolecular chemistry principle that results in a catalyst-free and solvent-free polymer-to-monomer transformation of a series of kinetically stable poly(disulfide)s. The coupling of two dynamic chemical equilibria—H-bond self-assembed stacking of the sidechains and dynamic covalent polymerization of the backbone—reversibly regulates the monomer–polymer equilibrium through simple solvation/desolvation cycles. Following this principle, we synthesize thermodynamically metastable, yet kinetically stable, poly(disulfide)s with high crystallinity and tunable mechanical properties. Upon mild thermal activation at 120 °C, the plastic can be readily recycled into crystalline monomers with quantitative yields and monomer purity >90%. The monomers can then be used to regenerate origin-quality polymers. Our findings offer a supramolecular route for designing closed-loop recyclable synthetic polymers. Polymer chemistry Supramolecular chemistry
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 05, 2025 On-chip quantum interference of indistinguishable single photons from integrated independent molecules On-chip integration of independent channels of indistinguishable single photons is a prerequisite for scalable optical quantum information processing. This requires separate solid-state single-photon emitters to exhibit identical lifetime-limited transitions. This challenging task is usually further exacerbated by spectral diffusion due to complex charge noise near material surfaces made by nanofabrication processes. Here we develop a molecular quantum photonic chip and demonstrate on-chip Hong–Ou–Mandel quantum interference of indistinguishable single photons from independent molecules. The molecules are embedded in a single-crystalline organic nanosheet and integrated with single-mode waveguides without nanofabrication, thereby ensuring stable, lifetime-limited transitions. With the aid of Stark tuning, we show how 100 waveguide-coupled molecules can be tuned to the same frequency and achieve on-chip Hong–Ou–Mandel interference visibilities exceeding 0.97 for 2 molecules separately coupled to 2 waveguides. For two molecules with a controlled frequency difference, we unveil over 100-µs-long quantum beating in the interference, showing both excellent single-photon purity (particle nature) and long coherence (wave nature) of the emission. Our results showcase a possible strategy towards constructing scalable optical universal quantum processors and a promising platform for studying waveguide quantum electrodynamics with identical single emitters wired via photonic circuits. Quantum information Quantum optics Single photons and quantum effects
N Nature Nanotechnology · Nov 03, 2025 Magnetically tunable selectivity in methane oxidation enabled by Fe-embedded liquid metal catalysts As they are liquids at room temperature, gallium-based metal substrates allow catalytic metal atoms to move freely without lattice constraints, thereby facilitating the development of catalysts with reconfigurable structures. Here we design an iron-embedded liquid metal catalyst that enables reversible switching of the aggregation and electron spin of iron atoms by controlling an external magnetic field. This facilitates a reversible conversion of the primary liquid products, methyl hydroperoxide (CH3OOH) and acetic acid (CH3COOH), under ambient conditions. The catalyst achieves promising production rates (CH3OOH, 1,679.6\({\rm{m}}{\rm{m}}{\rm{o}}{\rm{l}}\,{{\rm{g}}}_{{\rm{F}}{\rm{e}}}^{-1}\,{{\rm{h}}}^{-1}\); CH3COOH, 790.5\({\rm{m}}{\rm{m}}{\rm{o}}{\rm{l}}\,{{\rm{g}}}_{{\rm{F}}{\rm{e}}}^{-1}\,{{\rm{h}}}^{-1}\)) and high selectivities (CH3OOH, 99.9%; CH3COOH, 91.7%). In the absence of the magnetic field, iron atoms are atomically dispersed, leading to the C1 pathway without C–C bond coupling. When a magnetic field is applied, iron atoms cluster, favouring CH3COOH production in the C2 pathway. The product distribution can be finely and reversibly tuned with magnetic field intensity adjustments ranging from 0 to 500 G. Our findings highlight the potential for using an external magnetic field to precisely control catalytic pathways. Catalysis Energy science and technology
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 31, 2025 Prevention of acute thrombosis with vascular endothelium antioxidative nanoscavenger Antiplatelet drugs have represented a milestone in treating patients at high risk of thrombosis. However, their clinical use remains limited by bleeding-associated risk and limited efficacy. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by damaged vascular endothelial cells have been shown to stimulate thrombosis. Here we propose that a ROS-chemotactic nanoscavenger (MDCP), formed by crosslinking melanin and catalase, prevents acute thrombosis by protecting vascular endothelial cells from oxidative stress. We demonstrate that treatment with MDCP inhibits ROS-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells, thereby maintaining endothelial integrity and preventing collagen exposure, which consequently prevents platelet activation and thrombosis. By avoiding direct interference with platelet function, this modulation of vascular redox homeostasis via MDCP provides a promising alternative antithrombotic strategy that addresses the bleeding risk of current clinical antithrombotic drugs. Drug delivery Nanoparticles
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 30, 2025 Superconductivity in substitutional Ga-hyperdoped Ge epitaxial thin films Doping-induced superconductivity in group-IV elements may enable quantum functionalities in material systems accessible with well-established semiconductor technologies. Non-equilibrium hyperdoping of group-III atoms into C, Si or Ge can yield superconductivity; however, its origin is obscured by structural disorder and dopant clustering. Here we report the epitaxial growth of hyperdoped Ga:Ge films and trilayer heterostructures by molecular-beam epitaxy with extreme hole concentrations (nh= 4.15 × 1021cm−3, 17.9% Ga substitution) that yield superconductivity with a critical temperature ofTc= 3.5 K. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption and scattering methods reveal that Ga dopants are substitutionally incorporated within the Ge lattice, introducing a tetragonal distortion to the crystal unit cell. Our findings, corroborated by first-principles calculations, suggest that the structural order of Ga dopants creates a narrow band for the emergence of superconductivity in Ge, establishing hyperdoped Ga:Ge as a low-disorder, epitaxial superconductor–semiconductor platform. Superconducting properties and materials Synthesis and processing
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 30, 2025 Electrically driven heterostructured far-infrared wire lasers with integrated graphene plasmons Photonic technologies that exploit surface plasmons in graphene can offer groundbreaking opportunities for the development of compact and inexpensive active photonic devices, owing to the unique combination of tight field localization, giant optical nonlinearities and electrostatic gating tuning. Here we take advantage of this unique combination of properties to engineer frequency up-converted, electrically driven, single-mode photonic sources in the 9.0–10.5 THz range, with an emission frequency entirely tunable by design. We excite plasmons confined in a multilayer graphene micro-ribbon grating within a distributed-feedback terahertz quantum cascade laser that incorporates a top supercapacitor to tune the graphene Fermi energy, demonstrating third harmonic generation. Our monolithic, electrically driven laser works in the inaccessible Reststrahlen band of its core III–V semiconductor heterostructure and shows a peak power of ~9 μW, laying the foundation of a new generation of plasmonic, nonlinear light-emitting sources. Lasers LEDs and light sources Nanophotonics and plasmonics Optical properties and devices
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 29, 2025 Gas-mediated defect engineering in earth-abundant Mn-rich layered oxides for non-aqueous sodium-based batteries Gases are often by-products of battery materials during cell formation and degradation, affecting the cycle life and safety of rechargeable batteries. However, understanding gas-mediated (electro)-chemical reactions and nanoscale structural transformations during the synthesis of battery electrode materials remains challenging because of the lack of suitable characterization routes and the complexity of the interplay between thermodynamics and kinetics. Here we use operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction, in situ transmission X-ray microscopy and multiscale modelling to elucidate the reaction pathways and microstructural defect development of earth-abundant Mn-rich layered oxides as positive electrode materials for sodium-based batteries. In particular, we demonstrate the dominant role of CO2over O2and H2O(g)in modulating the competition between entropy and enthalpy during solid-state synthesis. Using Ni0.25Mn0.75CO3as a model precursor, we reveal that CO2generation favours the formation of entropy-driven metastable intermediates, suppresses closed pore/nanovoids formation and decreases chemical heterogeneity and residual lattice strain of Mn-rich layered oxides during the synthesis. This result motivates a fast-sintering strategy to promote CO2release, which ultimately leads to improved chemo-mechanical and electrochemical stability of the Mn-rich positive electrodes when tested in non-aqueous Na metal coin cells. Batteries Characterization and analytical techniques Materials for energy and catalysis
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 29, 2025 A modular mRNA platform for programmable induction of tumour-specific immunogenic cell death Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics hold great promise for oncology but their efficacy is limited by systemic off-target effects and immunosuppressive tumour microenvironments. Here we present TITUR, a tumour-customizable mRNA nanomedicine platform that integrates tumour-customizable ionizable lipids (TIs) and tumour-specific untranslated regions (TURs) to enhance tumour-selective mRNA delivery and expression. This dual-engineered approach enables the precise intratumoural expression of 4HB, an immunogenic cell death-inducing protein, while mitigating systemic toxicities. Using murine models of immunologically cold tumours, including melanoma and triple-negative breast cancer, TITUR-mediated 4HB delivery induced tumour-specific immunogenic cell death, remodelled the tumour microenvironment and enhanced immune cell infiltration. When combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, 4HB TITUR suppressed primary and metastatic tumour growth, while also exhibiting vaccine-like properties by reducing tumour recurrence and eliciting systemic antitumour immunity. Furthermore, it demonstrated a superior safety profile compared with conventional mRNA delivery methods. Our data indicate that TITUR may serve as a versatile approach to address the limitations of current immunotherapies and support the development of personalized mRNA nanomedicines. Drug delivery Nanoparticles
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 29, 2025 Picosecond quantum transients in halide perovskite nanodomain superlattices The high optoelectronic quality of halide perovskites makes them suitable for use in optoelectronic devices and, recently, in emerging quantum emission applications. Advancements in perovskite nanomaterials have led to the discovery of processes in which luminescence decay times are below 100 picoseconds, stimulating the exploration of even faster radiative rates for advanced quantum applications, which have only been realized in III–V materials grown using costly epitaxial growth methods. Here we discovered ultrafast quantum transients with timescales of around two picoseconds at low temperature in bulk formamidinium lead iodide films grown via scalable solution or vapour approaches. Using a multimodal strategy, combining ultrafast spectroscopy, optical and electron microscopy, we show that these transients originate from quantum tunnelling in nanodomain superlattices. The outcome of the transient decays, that is, photoluminescence, mirrors the photoabsorption of the states, with an ultranarrow linewidth at low temperature that can reach <2 nm (~4 meV). Localized correlation of the emission and structure reveals that the nanodomain superlattices are formed by alternating ordered layers of corner-sharing and face-sharing octahedra. This discovery opens new applications leveraging intrinsic quantum properties and demonstrates powerful multimodal approaches for quantum investigations. Single photons and quantum effects Structural properties
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 27, 2025 A quantum resistance memristor for an intrinsically traceable International System of Units standard The recent revision of the International System of Units (SI)—which fixed the numerical values of nature’s fundamental constants—has opened new perspectives for practical realizations of SI units. Here we demonstrate an intrinsic resistance standard based on memristive nanoionic cells that operate in air at room temperature and are directly accessible to end users. By driving these devices into the quantum conductance regime and using an electrochemical-polishing-based programming strategy, we achieved quantum conductance levels that can be exploited as intrinsic standard values. An interlaboratory comparison confirmed metrological consistency, with deviations of –3.8% and 0.6% from the agreed SI values for the fundamental quantum of conductance,G0, and 2G0, respectively. These results lay the groundwork for the implementation of national metrology institute services on chip and for the development of self-calibrating measurement systems with zero-chain traceability. Electronic and spintronic devices Electronic devices
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 24, 2025 Unravelling electro-chemo-mechanical processes in graphite/silicon composites for designing nanoporous and microstructured battery electrodes Silicon is a promising negative electrode material for high-energy batteries, but its volume changes during cell cycling cause rapid degradation, limiting its loading to about 10 wt.% in conventional graphite/Si composite electrodes. Overcoming this threshold requires evidence-based design for the formulation of advanced electrodes. Here we combine multimodal operando imaging techniques, assisted by structural and electrochemical characterizations, to elucidate the multiscale electro-chemo-mechanical processes in graphite/Si composite negative electrodes. We demonstrate that the electrochemical cycling stability of Si particles strongly depends on the design of intraparticle nanoscale porous structures, and the encapsulation and loss of active Si particles result in excessive charging current being directed to the graphite particles, increasing the risk of lithium plating. We also show that heterogeneous strains are present between graphite and Si particles, in the carbon-binder domain and the electrode’s porous structures. Focusing on the volume expansion of the electrode during electrochemical cycling, we prove that the rate performance and Si utilization are heavily influenced by the expansion of the carbon-binder domain and the decrease in porosity. Based on this acquired knowledge, we propose a tailored double-layer graphite/Si composite electrode design that exhibits lower polarization and capacity decay compared with conventional graphite/Si electrode formulations. Batteries Imaging techniques Materials for energy and catalysis Materials science
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 22, 2025 Black phosphorus nanosheets boost mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation improving immunotherapy outcomes Regulating intracellular phosphorus may affect multiple biosynthetic processes and modulate cancer cell progression. Here we show that exogenous PEGylated black phosphorus nanosheets (BPP) are metabolized into phosphate in tumor cells, where they boost mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. This results in the modulation of several signalling pathways, with the attenuation of prosurvival gene expression and reduction in PD-L1 protein expression in melanoma cells, leading to impaired cancer progression. We also reveal that BPP promote the activation of immune regulation, confirmed by the increased proinflammatory cytokine content in serum, high expression of tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte CD8+T cells and lower expression of CD4+regulatory T cells in tumour and lymph nodes. In the spleen, BPP mediate a significant increase in the concentration of effector memory CD8+T cells, inducing a ‘positive regulation’ of the immune microenvironment. The introduction of a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor further enhances the immunopotentiation effect. These findings may define BPP as a dual-function tumour chemotherapeutic and immunopotentiator. Nanotechnology in cancer Two-dimensional materials
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 20, 2025 Reversible metamorphosis of hierarchical DNA–inorganic crystals Living systems transform their shapes via reversible formation of macromolecular structural complexes, leading to deformations at localized sites. Here we report DNA–inorganic flower-shaped crystals with inscribed deformation modes that enable flowers to shrink and bend reversibly. Template-independent DNA polymerization of pH-responsive and inert blocks tune the hierarchical assembly and spatial localization of DNA within flowers. Experiments and simulations demonstrate that reversible, pH-triggered folding of intraflower DNA strands drives reconfiguration of flowers. By contrast, the subflower localization of these contractile DNA motifs dictates the mode of shape change. As microscale flowers close and open, their nanoscale crystal organization changes reversibly, suggesting that mechanical metamorphosis of flowers is transduced across multiple organizational length scales. The adaptability of flowers to environmental changes activates cascaded biocatalytic reactions and reveals gel-encrypted information. Further variation of the DNA polymer sequence, its subcrystal localization and its reversible folding advances a new class of organic–inorganic shape-shifters. Organic–inorganic nanostructures Organizing materials with DNA
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 16, 2025 Moving Abrikosov vortex lattices generate sub-40-nm magnons Magnons, the quasi-particles of spin waves, are promising candidates for developing wave-based computing and hybrid quantum technologies. However, generating short-wavelength magnons through microwave excitation becomes increasingly challenging because the excitation efficiency decreases as the antenna size shrinks. Here we demonstrate an alternative approach and generate magnons in a Co–Fe strip using magnetic flux quanta, that is, Abrikosov vortices, moving in an adjacent Nb–C superconductor at velocities exceeding 1 km s−1. The moving vortex lattice acts on the magnetic layer via both static and dynamic stray fields. Our experiments showcase the unidirectional excitation of sub-40-nm wavelength magnons and their coherent interaction with the moving vortices. In turn, the Nb–C sustains its low-resistive state because the magnon creation removes energy from the superconductor. This discovery enables high-speed on-chip electrically driven magnon generation and validates an alternative means of magnon excitation. Our approach could be adapted to other wave excitations, such as surface acoustic waves, for integration into advanced electronic and hybrid quantum systems. Magnetic properties and materials Single photons and quantum effects
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 15, 2025 Hand-powered interfacial electric-field-enhanced water disinfection system Mechanical-energy-driven portable water disinfection has attracted attention for its electricity-free operation, but this approach generally faces bottlenecks such as a high mechanical activation threshold, energy dispersion and low interfacial reaction efficiency, making it difficult to achieve rapid and stable pathogen inactivation in practical scenarios. Here we report a manually operated portable water disinfection system that can inactivate 99.9999% ofVibrio choleraewithin 1 min and demonstrate broad-spectrum disinfection against bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Amino-modified SiO2nanoparticles loaded with Au nanoparticles capture hydrated electrons and transfer them to the electret surface to generate localized nanoscale electric fields, which are further strengthened by hydrophobic fluorinated groups. This interfacial architecture not only promotes charge accumulation and transfer, but also leverages the intensified electric field to actively drive reactive oxygen species generation at the solid–liquid–air interface, thereby markedly enhancing the disinfection rate and efficacy compared with existing contact-electrification-based disinfection technologies. Owing to its ease of operation, our interfacial electric-field-enhanced disinfection system is readily deployable in disaster relief and resource-constrained regions. Nanobiotechnology Nanoparticles
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 07, 2025 Low-iridium stabilized ruthenium oxide anode catalyst for durable proton-exchange membrane water electrolysis While mixing iridium (Ir) with ruthenium oxide (RuO2) has proven to be an effective strategy for reducing Ir loading in anode catalysts for proton-exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysers, achieving industrially relevant long-term stability typically requires an Ir-rich, Ru-lean combination. Here, by combining density functional theory with Metropolis Monte Carlo methods, we discovered that sufficient stabilization in the RuO2lattice could be achieved with less than 50 at.% of Ir, and that Ir in the first subsurface layer plays a critical role. By effectively dispersing Ir dopants within the RuO2lattice, we demonstrated an Ir:Ru atomic ratio of only 1:6 that exhibited exceptional stability for over 1,500 h of continuous water electrolysis at 2 A cm−2. Our Ru6IrOxcatalyst has the potential to reduce Ir loading by 80% compared with current commercial PEM water electrolysers, and its stability was further validated under industrial testing conditions in a 25-cm2PEM electrolyser. Chemical engineering Electrocatalysis Nanoparticles
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 07, 2025 Tailoring nanoscale interfaces for perovskite–perovskite–silicon triple-junction solar cells Triple‐junction solar cells theoretically outperform their double-junction and single‐junction counterparts in power conversion efficiency, yet practical perovskite–perovskite–silicon devices have fallen short of both theoretical limits and commercial targets. To address surface defects in the top perovskite junction, we introduce a piperazine-1,4-diium chloride treatment, which replaces less stable lithium fluoride. For interfacing the top and middle perovskite junctions, we optimize the size of gold nanoparticles deposited on atomic layer-deposited tin oxide for best ohmic contacting with minimal optical losses. Applying these strategies, our champion 1-cm2triple‐junction cell achieved a third party-verified reverse‐scan power conversion efficiency of 27.06% with an open circuit voltage of 3.16 V. Scaling up to 16 cm2, the device produced a certified steady‐state power conversion efficiency of 23.3%. Device longevity also improved by eliminating methylammonium and incorporating rubidium into the perovskite bulk alongside the piperazine-1,4-diium chloride surface layer. An encapsulated 1-cm2cell retained 95% of its initial efficiency after 407 h at maximum power point and passed the IEC 61215 thermal cycling test. These results represent advancements towards efficient and stable perovskite–perovskite–silicon triple-junction solar cells. Devices for energy harvesting Electronic devices Electronic properties and materials
N Nature Nanotechnology · Oct 01, 2025 Spatiotemporal-adaptive nanotherapeutics promote post-injury regeneration in ageing through metabolic modulation In the elderly population, dysregulated cellular behaviour during the healing process impacts tissue regeneration after injury. Early in the regeneration process, pro-inflammatory macrophages contribute to immune imbalance, while in later stages, senescent stem cells reduce regenerative capacity. Here we demonstrate that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) can reprogramme both types of dysfunctional cell. We developed a spatiotemporal-adaptive nanotherapeutic system for the delivery of NAD+into selected cells during different phases of tissue repair. By replenishing intracellular NAD+pools, this system reshapes the multicellular regeneration niche, by metabolically rewiring pro-inflammatory macrophages towards a pro-repair phenotype during the early phase, and enhancing the differentiation capacity of senescent stem cells at later stages. This strategy effectively restored impaired bone regeneration in osteoporotic mice and accelerated skin wound healing. Our work presents a spatiotemporal-adaptive nanomedicine platform that bridges cell metabolism, nanomedicine and regeneration therapy. Drug delivery Nanoparticles Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
N Nature Nanotechnology · Sep 24, 2025 Polaron superlattices in n-doped single conjugated polymers The presence of multiple polarons, particularly at high doping levels, involves complex many-body interactions that substantially influence the electronic and transport properties of various materials. Determining the spatial distributions of coupled electronic and vibrational states is essential to understanding interacting polarons at a microscopic level but remains a challenge. Here we report the crystallization of electron polarons into quasi-one-dimensional polaron superlattices in highly n-doped single ethynylene-bonded polypentacenes. We employ integrated scanning tunnelling microscopy, atomic force microscopy and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with first-principles density functional theory to correlate electronic, vibrational and structural information. The observed polaron superlattices exhibit different periodicities that depend on the doping levels. Their real-space polaron wavefunctions are determined by the intertwined electronic and vibrational periodic modulations associated with the periodic lattice distortions as resolved by atomic force microscopy. We can then identify the multiband charge-density-wave attributes of interacting polarons in these superlattices. Our findings provide microscopic insights in interacting polarons, which is important for the understanding of polaronic charge transport mechanisms in organic semiconductors. Electronic properties and materials Imaging techniques
N Nature Nanotechnology · Sep 24, 2025 Full-length protein classification via cysteine fingerprinting in solid-state nanopores Recent advances in single-molecule technologies are transforming the field of protein analysis. Solid-state nanopores provide an effective method to linearize and thread full-length proteins in a single file. However, slowing their rapid translocation remains a challenge for accurate, time-resolved ion-current-based fingerprinting. In this work, we present a click-chemistry-based strategy for covalently attaching short oligonucleotides to cysteine residues on denatured proteins across a broad range of molecular weights. The negatively charged oligonucleotides increase the capture rate by a factor of ten compared with native proteins and induce a distinct ‘stick–slip’ motion that slows protein passage through the nanopore by more than 20-fold. These oligonucleotide tags also produce characteristic, time-resolved ion current pulses that serve as unique protein-specific signatures. To uncover the physical mechanism responsible for the protein translocation dynamics, we model our system using all-atom molecular dynamics and finite element simulations. By leveraging a supervised machine learning classifier, we demonstrate that a small number of translocation events is sufficient to identify individual proteins, achieving near-perfect classification accuracy. To demonstrate the robustness of the method, we successfully distinguish between VEGF-A isoforms (VEGF-165 and VEGF-121), which are relevant to cancer diagnostics, within a mixed protein sample. Our nanopore-based fingerprinting technique eliminates the need for affinity reagents, such as protein-specific antibodies, or motor proteins, offering a rapid, direct and cost-effective approach for single-molecule protein identification and classification. Nanopores
N Nature Nanotechnology · Sep 24, 2025 Meso–macroporous hydrogel for direct litre-scale isolation of extracellular vesicles Extracellular vesicles are cell-originated lipid bilayer membrane vesicles that play vital roles in cell-to-cell communications. While extracellular vesicles hold substantial biomedical potential, conventional methodologies for isolating extracellular vesicles require elaborate preprocessing and, therefore, remain labour intensive and limited by throughput. To overcome these challenges, we present a facile fabrication route for generating a meso–macroporous hydrogel matrix with pores of ~400 nm for customizable extracellular vesicle isolation. By combining surface charge-selective capture of extracellular vesicles within the hydrogel matrix and their recovery by high ionic strength, we report direct extracellular vesicle isolation with a throughput range from microlitre to litre scales, without preprocessing, for various biofluids, including whole blood, plasma, ascites, saliva, urine, bovine milk and cell culture media. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the meso–macroporous hydrogel also serves as a solid-phase matrix for preserving extracellular vesicles for on-demand downstream analyses, making it applicable for therapeutics, cosmeceuticals and disease diagnostics. Biomaterials Biomedical engineering Characterization and analytical techniques Nanopores Synthesis and processing
N Nature Nanotechnology · Sep 17, 2025 Molecular crystal memristors Memristors have emerged as a promising hardware platform for in-memory computing, but many current devices suffer from channel material degradation during repeated resistive switching. This leads to high energy consumption and limited endurance. Here we introduce a molecular crystal memristor, of which the representative channel material, Sb2O3, possesses a molecular crystal structure where molecular cages are interconnected via van der Waals forces. This unique configuration allows ions to migrate through intermolecular spaces with relatively low energy input, preserving the integrity of the crystal structure even after extensive switching cycles. Our molecular crystal memristor thus exhibits low energy consumption of 26 zJ per operation, with prominent endurance surpassing 109switching cycles. The device delivers both reconfigurable non-volatile and volatile resistive switching behaviours over a broad range of device scales, from micrometres down to nanometres. Furthermore, we establish the scalability of this technology by fabricating large crossbar arrays on an 8 inch wafer. This enables the successful implementation of reservoir computing on a single CMOS-integrated chip using these memristors, achieving 100% accuracy in dynamic vision recognition. Electronic devices Information storage
N Nature Nanotechnology · Sep 10, 2025 Nanofibrous supramolecular peptide hydrogels for controlled release of small-molecule drugs and biologics Maintaining safe and potent drug levels in vivo is challenging. Multidomain peptides assemble into supramolecular hydrogels with a well-defined, highly porous nanostructure that makes them attractive for drug delivery. However, their ability to extend release is typically limited by rapid drug diffusion. Here, to overcome this challenge, we present self-assembling boronate ester release (SABER) multidomain peptides capable of engaging in dynamic covalent bonding with payloads containing boronic acids. As examples, we demonstrate that SABER hydrogels can prolong the release of boronic acid-containing small-molecule drugs and boronic acid-modified biologics such as insulin and antibodies. Pharmacokinetic studies reveal that SABER hydrogels extend the therapeutic effect of ganfeborole from days to weeks, preventingMycobacterium tuberculosisgrowth compared with oral administration in an infection model. Similarly, SABER hydrogels extended insulin activity, maintaining normoglycemia for 6 days in diabetic mice after a single injection. These results suggest that SABER hydrogels present broad potential for clinical translation. Biomedical engineering Drug delivery Molecular self-assembly Supramolecular polymers
N Nature Nanotechnology · Sep 10, 2025 Subvolt high-speed free-space modulator with electro-optic metasurface Active metasurfaces incorporating electro-optic materials enable high-speed free-space optical modulators that show great promise for a wide range of applications, including optical communication, sensing and computing. However, the limited light–matter interaction lengths in metasurfaces typically require high driving voltages exceeding tens of volts to achieve satisfactory modulation. Here we present low-voltage, high-speed free-space optical modulators based on silicon-organic-hybrid metasurfaces with dimerized-grating-based nanostructures. By exploiting a high-Qresonant mode, normally incident light is effectively trapped within a submicrometre-scale silicon slot region embedded with organic electro-optic material. Consequently, highly efficient modulation is obtained, enabling data transmission at 50 Mbps and 1.6 Gbps with driving voltages of only 0.2 V and 1 V, respectively. These metasurface modulators can now operate at complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor-compatible voltage levels, allowing energy-efficient high-speed practical applications of active metasurfaces. Metamaterials Microresonators Nanophotonics and plasmonics Silicon photonics Sub-wavelength optics
N Nature Nanotechnology · Sep 05, 2025 Towards Floquet Chern insulators of light Topological photonics explores photonic systems that exhibit robustness against defects and disorder, enabled by protection from underlying topological phases. These phases are typically realized in linear optical systems and characterized by their intrinsic photonic band structures. Here we experimentally study Floquet Chern insulators in periodically driven nonlinear photonic crystals, where the topological phase is controlled by the polarization and the frequency of the driving field. Our transient sum-frequency generation measurements reveal strong hybridization of the Floquet photonic bands. The measured spectrum remains gapless under a linearly polarized drive but becomes gapped under a circularly polarized drive. Theoretical analysis confirms that the Floquet gap is topological, characterized by a non-zero Chern number—a consequence of time-reversal symmetry breaking induced by the circularly polarized driving field. This work offers opportunities to explore the role of classical optical nonlinearity in topological phases and their applications in nonlinear optoelectronics. Nonlinear optics Photonic crystals
N Nature Nanotechnology · Aug 28, 2025 Emission of nitrogen–vacancy centres in diamond shaped by topological photonic waveguide modes As the ability to integrate single-photon emitters into photonic architectures improves, so does the need to characterize and understand their interaction. Here we use a scanning diamond nanocrystal to investigate the interplay between the emission of room-temperature nitrogen–vacancy (NV) centres and a proximal topological waveguide. In our experiments, NVs serve as local, spectrally broad light sources, which we exploit to characterize the waveguide bandwidth as well as the correspondence between the light injection site and the directionality of wave propagation. We find that near-field coupling to the waveguide influences the spectral shape and ellipticity of the NV photoluminescence, revealing nanostructured light fields through polarization and amplitude contrasts exceeding 50%, with a spatial resolution set by the nanoparticle size. Our results expand on the sensing modalities afforded by colour centres, highlighting novel opportunities for on-chip quantum optics devices that leverage topological photonics to optimally manipulate and read out single-photon emitters. Atom optics Optical properties of diamond
N Nature Nanotechnology · Aug 19, 2025 An energy metabolism-engaged nanomedicine maintains mitochondrial homeostasis to alleviate cellular ageing Energy restriction is closely related to cellular senescence and species longevity. Here, based on the structure and function of ATP synthase, a key enzyme for energy generation, we develop energy metabolism-engaged nanomedicines (EM-eNMs) to rejuvenate aged stromal/stem cells, and help to prevent skeletal ageing. We show that EM-eNMs infiltrate the mitochondria of aged bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (BMMSCs), driving mitochondrial fission, mitophagy, glycolysis and maintaining BMMSC stemness and multifunction. The EM-eNMs directly bind to the ATP synthase and promote mitophagy through induction of the dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) gene. Remarkably, EM-eNMs selectively target bone tissues through systemic delivery and significantly reverse osteoporotic bone loss in aged mice by enhancing mitochondrial fission and mitophagy, while simultaneously restoring the stemness and osteogenic potential of aged BMMSCs in situ. Taken together, our findings highlight the potential of the EM-eNMs as a targeted therapy to alleviate cellular senescence and age-related diseases. Drug delivery Nanoparticles Nanostructures Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
N Nature Nanotechnology · Aug 18, 2025 Acoustically activatable liposomes as a translational nanotechnology for site-targeted drug delivery and noninvasive neuromodulation Stimulus-responsive drug delivery nanotechnologies promise noninvasive activation of the right drug at the right place at the right time. However, these systems often incorporate non-validated pharmaceutical excipients and other features that limit their clinical translation. Here we engineer the responsiveness of liposomes to a pulsed, low-intensity ultrasound activating stimulus by incorporating a generally regarded as safe excipient that alters the acoustic properties of the liposome core medium. We show that this approach permits loading and ultrasound-induced release of four drugs in vitro. We then leverage this performance to enable drug-mediated noninvasive neuromodulation of each of the central and the peripheral nervous system in vivo. These acoustically activatable liposomes formulated with common and validated pharmaceutical excipients and production processes provide a versatile system for stimulus-responsive site-targeted drug delivery and noninvasive neuromodulation, with high clinical translation potential. Drug delivery Nanoparticles
N Nature Nanotechnology · Aug 15, 2025 High-order dynamics in an ultra-adaptive neuromorphic vision device Neuromorphic hardware for artificial general vision intelligence holds the potential to match and surpass biological visual systems by processing complex visual dynamics with high adaptability and efficiency. However, current implementations rely on multiple complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor or neuromorphic elements, leading to significant area and power inefficiencies and system complexity. This is owing to a key challenge that no single electronic device, to our knowledge, has yet been demonstrated that can integrate retina-like and cortex-like spiking and graded neuronal dynamics operable across both optical and electrical domains. Here we report a single ultra-adaptive neuromorphic vision device (IxTyO1–x–y/CuOx/Pd) by ingeniously tailoring its electronic properties, enabling uniquely controlled interface and bulk dynamics by charged particles, including electrons, oxygen ions and vacancies. The device highly amalgamates broadband retinal spiking neuron and non-spiking graded neuron, and cortical synapse and neuron dynamics, with ultralow power consumption. Real-time optoelectronic dynamics is elucidated through in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and validated by technology computer-aided design simulations. An artificial general vision intelligence system based on homogeneous ultra-adaptive neuromorphic vision device arrays is constructed, adaptively supporting both asynchronous event-driven and synchronous frame-driven paradigms for versatile cognitive imaging demands, with superior power efficiency of up to 67.89 trillion operations per second per watt and area efficiency of up to 3.96 mega operations per second per feature size (MOPS/F2). Electronic devices
N Nature Nanotechnology · Aug 15, 2025 Designing lipid nanoparticles using a transformer-based neural network The RNA medicine revolution has been spurred by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The effectiveness of an LNP is determined by its lipid components and their ratios; however, experimental optimization is laborious and does not explore the full design space. Computational approaches such as deep learning can be greatly beneficial, but the composite nature of LNPs limits the effectiveness of existing single molecule-based algorithms to LNPs. Addressing this, our approach integrates the multi-component and multimodal features of composite formulations such as LNPs to predict their performance in an end-to-end manner. Here we generate one of the largest LNP datasets (LANCE) by varying LNP formulations to train our deep learning model, COMET. This transformer-based neural network not only accurately predicts the efficacy of LNPs but is adaptable to non-canonical LNP formulations such as those with two ionizable lipids and polymeric materials. Furthermore, COMET can predict LNP performance in a cell line outside of LANCE and predict LNP stability during lyophilization using only small training datasets. Experimental validation showed that our approach can identify LNPs that exhibit strong protein expression in vitro and in vivo, promising accelerated development of nucleic acid therapies with extensive potential across therapeutic and manufacturing applications. Drug delivery Nanoparticles
