Perspectives

Temporal blockade of the mononuclear phagocyte system is an approach to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of nanocarrier drug-delivery systems but the broad applicability is hindered by the complexity of optimisation and management of potential side effects. Here, the authors review the development of this technique and show its efficiency using meta-analysis of the published data and discuss essential features for its successful translation to clinic.

This Perspective provides insightful discussion in how engineers can aid human health and safety during earthquake disasters. From search and rescue, helping mobilize patients, and securing medical facilities and treatment engineering can work towards bettering earthquake response.

Evolutionary and rational design approaches are commonly used to engineer biological systems but are typically seen at odds with each other. In this perspective the authors argue for the concept of an evolutionary design spectrum to help unify and compare these design methodologies to support more effective biological engineering.

Considerable attention has been directed towards chiral nanocatalysts due to their significant role in facilitating asymmetric organic transformations. Here the authors highlight the recent advancements and notable examples in the field of chiral inorganic nanocatalysts.

Achieving cost-competitive bio-based processes requires development of stable and selective biocatalysts. In this Perspective, the authors propose an integrated solution combining growth-coupled selection with machine learning and automated workflows to accelerate development pipelines.

Hypersonic vehicles experience extreme temperatures, high heat fluxes, and aggressive oxidizing environments. Here, the authors highlight key materials design principles for critical vehicle areas and strategies for advancing laboratory-scale materials to flight-ready components.

Hyperactivation of YAP/TAZ, the Hippo pathway downstream effectors, is common in human cancer. In this perspective, the authors review the role of the Hippo pathway in distinct tumor cell populations, discuss the impact of inhibiting Hippo output on tumor growth, and examine current developments in YAP/TAZ inhibitors.

In this Perspective, the authors discuss the importance of preventing zoonotic spillover to prevent pandemics. They highlight mechanisms by which environmental changes can enable spillover, identify ecological interventions for spillover prevention and suggest policy frameworks through which interventions can be implemented.

Engineering biology is a dynamic field that uses gene editing, synthesis, assembly, and engineering to design new or modified biological systems. Here the authors discuss the policy considerations and interventions needed to support a role for engineering biology in climate change mitigation.

Digital quantum simulations of quantum many-body systems have emerged as one of the most promising applications of near-term quantum computing. This Perspective article provides an overview and an outlook on future developments in this field.

Reservoir Computing has shown advantageous performance in signal processing and learning tasks due to compact design and ability for fast training. Here, the authors discuss the parallel progress of mathematical theory, algorithm design and experimental realizations of Reservoir Computers, and identify emerging opportunities as well as existing challenges for their large-scale industrial adoption.

Rejuvenation and partial reprogramming are two frontier areas in the field of aging. Here, the authors summarize advances in these fields and suggest future directions for research and therapy.

The development of human cellular models of aging that surpass the limitations of animal models of aging is urgent. Here, the authors explore the opportunities and limitations of cellular reprogramming to create reliable aging in vitro models and their potential for the discovery of anti-aging compounds.

Wearable devices and exoskeletons can restore and augment the user’s capability but are not necessarily perceived them as part of their bodies. In this perspective, the authors reflect on the importance of integrating environmental, physiological, and physical information to improve the embodiment of wearable robots.

Annexins are calcium-regulated membrane binding proteins with an array of cellular activities. Here, Gerke et al. describe recent research highlighting the many functions of annexins and provide a view on directions for the future.

Optical computing via free-space-based structured optical materials allows to access optical information without the need for preprocessing or optoelectronic conversion. In this Perspective, the authors describe opportunities and challenges in their use for optical computing, information processing, computational imaging and sensing.

Assessing the performance of self-driving labs (SDLs) is challenging due to the specificities of each experiment. In this Perspective, the authors review recent literature of SDLs for materials science and chemistry and suggest how to report SDL performance more effectively.

In order to complete the transition to the era of large-scale integration, silicon photonics will have to overcome several challenges. Here, the authors outline what these challenges are and what it will take to tackle them.

Natural climate solutions can mitigate climate change but misunderstandings about what constitutes a natural climate solution generate unnecessary confusion and controversy. This Perspective distills five foundational principles of natural climate solutions and fifteen operational principles for practical implementation.

Neuroprosthetic devices have recently emerged as promising solutions to restore sensory-motor functions lost due to injury or neurological diseases. In this perspective, Donati and Valle propose to combine neuroprostheses with neuromorphic technologies for designing more natural human-machine interfaces with possible improvements in device performance, acceptability, and embeddability.