Reviews & Analysis

This PrimeView highlights ways to incorporate cargoes into metal-organic frameworks.

Metal–organic frameworks have a range of desirable properties that make them suitable for application in drug delivery, imaging and new treatment modalities. In this Primer, Lázaro et al. discuss the best practices in synthesis and characterization of metal–organic frameworks for biomedicine.

This PrimeView highlights the various real-world applications of origami engineering, ranging from robotics to medical devices, architecture and space technology.

Origami engineering offers a conceptual framework for non-destructive and scale-independent abstractions for engineering applications. In this Primer, Misseroni et al. provide a comprehensive overview of the major principles and elements in origami engineering, including theoretical fundamentals, simulation tools, manufacturing techniques and testing protocols.

This PrimeView highlights how to analyse top-down proteomics data.

Proteoforms can be investigated using top-down proteomics, a technique that analyses whole proteins without previous digestion. This Primer introduces top-down proteomics, exploring mass spectrometry experimental methods, sample preparation, data analysis and applications in understanding human disease.

This PrimeView highlights the different methods for the surface engineering of nanozymes.

Nanozymes are nanomaterial-based artificial enzymes that can emulate the catalytic functions inherent in enzymes. In this Primer, Zhang et al. discuss the nanozyme toolbox, including their design and modification, characterization, activity evaluation and applications in healthcare.

This PrimeView highlights the analysis of the FSRS response, produced using three laser pulses that, in combination, can detail insights into rapid molecular processes at a femtosecond time resolution.

Femtosecond stimulated Raman scattering (FSRS) is an ultrafast pump–probe spectroscopy method for investigating the vibrational dynamics of molecules. In this Primer, Batignani et al. introduce the fundamental concepts behind FSRS, its current utility and future integrations of artificial intelligence and quantum light.

This PrimeView highlights how different primary ion beams can be used to sample different surface species.

Solid samples can be imaged and chemically analysed using secondary ion mass spectrometry. This Primer describes the secondary ion mass spectrometry experimental setup, in which a primary ion beam sputters secondary ions that are analysed and detected by a mass spectrometer, and explores applications in materials, geological and life sciences.

This PrimeView highlights the different types of reporter tags that can be paired with photoreactive groups for photoaffinity labeling.

Photoaffinity labelling (PAL) enables the direct mapping of interactions of small molecules with proteins. In this Primer, Homan et al. discuss the basic principles and considerations involved in the design and implementation of PAL reagents and methods.

This PrimeView highlights the structures formed with different freeze casting moulds.

Freeze casting involves directional solidification of solutions or slurries followed by removal of the solid solvent phase. This Primer introduces the freeze casting technique, including experimental and analysis methods, with a particular focus on using X-ray tomoscopy for real-time, 3D observations of freeze casting dynamics.

This PrimeView highlights the use of quantitative text analysis in various analytical tasks, from categorizing information to analyzing sentiment and making predictions.

Quantitative text analysis is a range of computational methods to analyse text data statistically and mathematically. In this Primer, Kristoffer Nielbo et al. introduce the methods, principles and applications of the quantitative text analysis across disciplines.

This PrimeView highlights how to overcome challenges when performing fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared window.

Deep tissues can be imaged with high resolution and greater contrast by performing fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. This Primer summarizes how NIR-II fluorescence imaging can be used in animal models, exploring commonly used fluorophores and implementation approaches across a range of scientific and clinical applications.