Primers in 2023

Chemogenetics is a technique for modulating engineered proteins using small molecules. In this Primer, Kang et al. describe the key aspects of designing receptors and small molecules and their use in neuroscience applications.

In vivo NMR spectroscopy of whole, living multicellular organisms involves maintaining live organisms within an NMR spectrometer and analysing their metabolic profiles in real time. In this Primer, Lysak and colleagues describe experimental approaches for in vivo NMR, including solution-state and magic-angle spinning NMR.

Arrays of element antennas in radio interferometry enable the study of celestial objects with angular resolutions comparable with, or surpassing, optical imaging at wavelengths thousands of times shorter. In this Primer, Asaki et al. describe aperture synthesis, the basic instrumental components and data calibration.

Muography takes advantage of the high penetrating power and relativistic nature of cosmic-ray muons for imagery; positioning, navigation, timing; and secured communications. This Primer provides an overview of muography techniques, describing how they are used in Earth and planetary sciences, computer science and social science.

Using multiple liquid chromatography columns can improve separations and enable complex samples to be analysed. This Primer introduces comprehensive 2D chromatography, including instrument setups for different applications.

Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) is an optical technique that can investigate ultrafast dynamics with femtosecond time resolution. This Primer describes the underlying physical principles behind 2DES and explains how it can be applied to study different dynamic photophysical processes.

Studying materials at high temperature and pressure provides information about phase transitions, with different X-ray probes to characterize material properties. This Primer describes how static and dynamic compression at synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers can be used to reach high temperature, high pressure states and probe matter under extreme conditions.

Electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy measurements involve the collection of greatly enhanced Raman spectra at the electrified interface of nanostructured metal surfaces. In this Primer, Brosseau et al. describe the mechanisms of electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and important experimental details as well as data preprocessing, interpretation and analysis.

Protein film electrochemistry is used to study the redox properties of a protein adsorbed as a monolayer film on a working electrode. This Primer describes how protein film electrochemistry quantitatively investigates the thermodynamics and kinetics of processes such as ligand binding and redox catalysis.

Time-domain solutions to Maxwell’s equations can be computed using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. This Primer explores how FDTD can be used to study electromagnetic fields in complex media, including a summary of FDTD models, extensions, outputs and applications across the electromagnetic spectrum.

The unique electronic, mechanical and chemical properties of functionalized carbon nanotubes make them promising candidates for chemical sensors. In this Primer, Luo and Swager outline the material selection, device architecture and fabrication of carbon nanotube-based chemiresistive sensors and best practices for sensor testing.

The surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) effect holds an important position in advancing biological and chemical sensing technologies with chemical resolution. In this Primer, Kozuch et al. overview fabrication methods of SEIRA-active substrates and describe experimental considerations and interpretation of SEIRA spectra.

Functional material design can be enhanced by taking inspiration from nature. This Primer describes how micropatterns inspired by the natural world can be designed, fabricated and used to solve technical challenges.

Negative control variables (NCs) are variables that do not cause the outcome of interest and are not caused by the exposure of interest. This Primer describes how to use NCs to adjust for unmeasured confounding bias, for example in environmental or public health studies.

mRNA vaccines produce rapid and precise immune responses against infectious diseases and cancers. Chen et al. discuss the development of biomaterials and nanotechnology for mRNA vaccines, how these are designed and evaluated and the underlying mechanisms of cellular uptake and immune stimulation.

Light can be used to power CO₂ conversion into value-added chemicals and fuels. In this Primer, Fang et al. provide a guide for the experimentation of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, including catalyst synthesis and characterization, reactor construction, photocatalytic testing and exploration of mechanism.

Sulfur fluoride exchange (SuFEx) is a click reaction used to rapidly synthesize and discover functional molecules. In this Primer, Homer et al. discuss the essential elements of SuFEx operation, catalysis and SuFExable connective hubs and explore applications of SuFEx in drug development, polymer science and biochemistry.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have vital functions and promise diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In this Primer, Hendrix and colleagues discuss tools for isolating and characterizing EVs obtained from various sources, including the body and the environment.

Aptamers offer the specificity and affinity normally expected of antibodies but in small, chemically synthesized molecules free from cell culture-derived contaminants. In this Primer, DeRosa et al. provide guidance on the experimental design and data analysis of aptamers as well as considerations for improving reproducibility in experiments.

Containers are increasingly used in scientific projects to ensure reproducibility and promote collaboration. In this Primer, Moreau et al. explain containers, their use for scientific research and across various fields.