Microbial bioelectronic sensors offer rapid and cost-effective chemical monitoring by generating electrical signals. However, deploying such sensors in the field remains challenging. This Review proposes interdisciplinary solutions and integrates advances in chassis selection, genetic modification, material engineering and device fabrication.

Biomaterials can be designed to be injectable in a minimally invasive manner for the treatment of various conditions. This Review outlines design considerations for injectable biomaterials for different delivery routes, highlighting preclinical and clinical applications of injectable biomaterials.

Projection-based 3D bioprinting has the highest resolution/time for manufacturing ratio among all 3D printing technologies. This Review discusses the main components of projection-based 3D bioprinting and summarizes the necessary steps and challenges to improve bioprinting resolution.

Microbial catalysts must partition incoming substrate between synthesis of biomass and synthesis of a desired product. Two-stage bioprocesses can accommodate this tradeoff to maximize process productivity by temporal separation of growth and production phases. This Review discusses the challenges of maintaining a high metabolic activity during the production phase.

Research on human brain organoids is progressing at speed. Therefore, an ethical and legal framework needs to be put in place to ensure their responsible use, while not constraining innovation.

Microbial bioelectronic sensors offer rapid and cost-effective chemical monitoring by generating electrical signals. However, deploying such sensors in the field remains challenging. This Review proposes interdisciplinary solutions and integrates advances in chassis selection, genetic modification, material engineering and device fabrication.

An article in Nature Electronics reports the development of a biodegradable, minimally invasive tent electrode for large-area cortex monitoring.

An article in Nature Materials reports a new method for generating macroscale living materials by using cells as active crosslinkers.

Biomaterials can be designed to be injectable in a minimally invasive manner for the treatment of various conditions. This Review outlines design considerations for injectable biomaterials for different delivery routes, highlighting preclinical and clinical applications of injectable biomaterials.

Projection-based 3D bioprinting has the highest resolution/time for manufacturing ratio among all 3D printing technologies. This Review discusses the main components of projection-based 3D bioprinting and summarizes the necessary steps and challenges to improve bioprinting resolution.

Microbial catalysts must partition incoming substrate between synthesis of biomass and synthesis of a desired product. Two-stage bioprocesses can accommodate this tradeoff to maximize process productivity by temporal separation of growth and production phases. This Review discusses the challenges of maintaining a high metabolic activity during the production phase.

Navigating medical microrobots through intricate vascular pathways is challenging. AI-driven microrobots that leverage reinforcement learning and generative algorithms could navigate the body’s complex vascular network to deliver precise dosages of medication directly to targeted lesions.

Brain–machine interfaces (BMIs) have the potential to restore functions in people with neurological disorders, but they face challenges in development, ethics and implementation. As the field progresses and approaches clinical translation, addressing issues of hype, patient access, user-centred design and long-term support will be essential to ensure responsible innovation and adoption of BMIs.