Nanobiotechnology articles from across Nature Portfolio

The development of metal-nucleic acid nanocomposites for therapeutic is limited by poor stability and synthesis efficiency. Here, the authors develop a multi-fragmented aptamer DNAzyme metal-nucleic acid frameworks (MNFs) under milder conditions and demonstrate its preclinical efficacy in gastric cancer.

Plastic pollution severely threatens the resilience of nature. Here, the authors utilize the spore-forming, polymer-degrading bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, as a living filler to develop biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethane with improved mechanical properties and biodegradation.

Ex vivo engineering of T cells for adoptive T-cell therapy without pre-activation is challenging and hinders therapeutic efficacy. Here, using nanowires, the delivery of microRNAs to primary naïve mouse and human CD8⁺ T cells without pre-activation for immune protection against pathogens is demonstrated.

The design of synthetic systems that can sense chemical gradients and respond with directional motility and chemical activity is of interest. Here, the authors realize and control such behaviors in a synthetic system by tailoring multivalent interactions of adenosine nucleotides with catalytic microbeads.

Wound healing mechanisms differ depending on the sex, particularly in chronic wounds. Therefore, sex should be considered in the design of nanomedicine- and biomaterials-based wound healing therapies, both in preclinical and clinical testing.

A growing population, climate change and the environmental impacts of conventional agricultural practices are worsening food insecurity. New research shows that use of nanofertilizers can increase food production while simultaneously decreasing the negative environmental effects of agriculture.

A flexible, biodegradable and self-powered electronic bandage is designed to deliver dual-mode electrical stimulation, which can synergistically accelerate local intestinal wound healing. This approach also shows promise for reducing postoperative complications and could have broad potential for application in other tissues and organs.

An article in Nature describes regular, modular protein building blocks that can be combined — following a standard blueprint — into a variety of architectures.

Programmes to inspire the next generation of researchers can have a huge impact, as Rachel Lou explains in the recounting of her own experience.