Nature Reviews Bioengineering

Human protein-based biomaterials in preclinical modelling Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 09 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00425-7Human protein-based biomaterials facilitate the development of preclinical models that integrate predictive value and ethical responsibility. Metatissue uses decellularized extracellular matrix from placenta samples and human blood to create tunable, xeno-free substrates for 3D cell culture, minimizing the reliance on animal models and accelerating translational research.

Human protein-based biomaterials in preclinical modelling

Flexible AI chips Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 05 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00423-9This article describes FLEXI, a thin, low-cost and highly durable flexible AI chip that boosts computing speed by 27.5× while cutting power use to one-third of that of previous flexible chips.

ICYMI: Flexible AI chips

Flexible AI chips Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 05 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00423-9This article describes FLEXI, a thin, low-cost and highly durable flexible AI chip that boosts computing speed by 27.5× while cutting power use to one-third of that of previous flexible chips.

Flexible AI chips

In vivo imaging of gasotransmitters Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 04 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00417-7Gasotransmitters, including nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, are involved in maintaining homeostasis and play multifaceted roles in pathological pathways. This Review discusses imaging techniques that permit real-time in vivo visualization of gasotransmitter dynamics and explores the clinical potential of gasotransmitter imaging.

ICYMI: In vivo imaging of gasotransmitters

In vivo imaging of gasotransmitters Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 04 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00417-7Gasotransmitters, including nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, are involved in maintaining homeostasis and play multifaceted roles in pathological pathways. This Review discusses imaging techniques that permit real-time in vivo visualization of gasotransmitter dynamics and explores the clinical potential of gasotransmitter imaging.

In vivo imaging of gasotransmitters

ICYMI: Multi-framework validation of wearable cuffless blood pressure monitors

A universal membrane-centric mechanotransduction mechanism for vibrationally stimulated cells Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 27 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00420-yCells can respond to vibrational frequencies beyond physiological frequency ranges, including those in the ultrasonic domain. Independent, standardized experiments that probe mechanotransduction across frequencies and vibration modalities could clarify the underlying mechanisms that enable this broadband responsiveness.

ICYMI: A universal membrane-centric mechanotransduction mechanism for vibrationally stimulated cells

Multi-framework validation of wearable cuffless blood pressure monitors

A universal membrane-centric mechanotransduction mechanism for vibrationally stimulated cells Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 27 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00420-yCells can respond to vibrational frequencies beyond physiological frequency ranges, including those in the ultrasonic domain. Independent, standardized experiments that probe mechanotransduction across frequencies and vibration modalities could clarify the underlying mechanisms that enable this broadband responsiveness.

A universal membrane-centric mechanotransduction mechanism for vibrationally stimulated cells

Electronic hairs for prosthetic control Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 27 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00421-xAn article in Nature Sensors reports the development of flexible, hair-like microelectrodes and explores their use in prothesis control.

ICYMI: Electronic hairs for prosthetic control

Electronic hairs for prosthetic control Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 27 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00421-xAn article in Nature Sensors reports the development of flexible, hair-like microelectrodes and explores their use in prothesis control.

Electronic hairs for prosthetic control

De novo design of synthetic microbial genomes Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 23 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00410-0Synthetic biology might enable the bottom-up construction of synthetic genomes, offering a foundation for building synthetic cells. This Review discusses strategies for rational genome design, genome-scale organization, and integration of experimental and computational methods to realize a fully synthetic cell.

ICYMI: De novo design of synthetic microbial genomes

Overcoming xenotransplantation barriers through gene editing and immunomodulation Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 23 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00412-yXenotransplantation aims to address the shortage of human organs by using organs from species other than human; in particular, porcine organs share similarities with human organs in key aspects. This Review highlights major challenges in xenotransplantation, such as immune rejection and disease transmission, and explores solutions, such as gene editing, immunomodulation, and robust safety and ethical frameworks to enable future success.

ICYMI: Overcoming xenotransplantation barriers through gene editing and immunomodulation

Overcoming xenotransplantation barriers through gene editing and immunomodulation Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 23 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00412-yXenotransplantation aims to address the shortage of human organs by using organs from species other than human; in particular, porcine organs share similarities with human organs in key aspects. This Review highlights major challenges in xenotransplantation, such as immune rejection and disease transmission, and explores solutions, such as gene editing, immunomodulation, and robust safety and ethical frameworks to enable future success.

Overcoming xenotransplantation barriers through gene editing and immunomodulation

De novo design of synthetic microbial genomes Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 23 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00410-0Synthetic biology might enable the bottom-up construction of synthetic genomes, offering a foundation for building synthetic cells. This Review discusses strategies for rational genome design, genome-scale organization, and integration of experimental and computational methods to realize a fully synthetic cell.

De novo design of synthetic microbial genomes

Multi-device collaborative theranostics across tissue depth Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 18 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00419-5Theranostics is evolving from standalone devices to co-ordinated multi-device networks. To advance beyond empirical design, we propose a quantitative cost-effectiveness framework for evaluating and optimizing cross-depth system architectures.

ICYMI: Multi-device collaborative theranostics across tissue depth

Responsible innovation in bioengineering Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 18 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00415-9Bioengineering traditionally prioritizes device performance and reliability, treating environmental responsibility as an afterthought, thereby sidelining issues such as reversibility, equity and long-term environmental safety. Responsible innovation flips this hierarchy, placing sustainable design, built-in degradation and equitable distribution at the core from the beginning.

ICYMI: Responsible innovation in bioengineering

Multi-device collaborative theranostics across tissue depth Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 18 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00419-5Theranostics is evolving from standalone devices to co-ordinated multi-device networks. To advance beyond empirical design, we propose a quantitative cost-effectiveness framework for evaluating and optimizing cross-depth system architectures.

Multi-device collaborative theranostics across tissue depth

Responsible innovation in bioengineering Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 18 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00415-9Bioengineering traditionally prioritizes device performance and reliability, treating environmental responsibility as an afterthought, thereby sidelining issues such as reversibility, equity and long-term environmental safety. Responsible innovation flips this hierarchy, placing sustainable design, built-in degradation and equitable distribution at the core from the beginning.

Responsible innovation in bioengineering

ICYMI: Sex as a biological variable in biomedical engineering

Sex as a biological variable in biomedical engineering

Integrating sex as a biological variable in bioengineering should not be viewed as a women’s health concern but as a requirement for reproducible, rigorous research that ultimately benefits everyone. But what does truly meaningful integration look like in practice?
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Our February issue is live! Sex as a biological variable, models of early cancer, molecular bioengineering of nucleic acids, low-dimensional materials for bioelectronics, bacteria as living biosensors for DNA, and more
Read it here: go.nature.com/4tFFxTb

Engineering long-term stability in soft bioelectronics for clinical translation Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00414-wSoft bioelectronics promise seamless human–machine integration but typically struggle to maintain reliable functionalities under long-term exposure to the body’s dynamic environment. Identifying the full spectrum of failure modes, while implementing multidimensional strategies to enhancing long-term stability, is key to achieving clinical-grade stability.

ICYMI: Engineering long-term stability in soft bioelectronics for clinical translation

Engineering long-term stability in soft bioelectronics for clinical translation Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00414-wSoft bioelectronics promise seamless human–machine integration but typically struggle to maintain reliable functionalities under long-term exposure to the body’s dynamic environment. Identifying the full spectrum of failure modes, while implementing multidimensional strategies to enhancing long-term stability, is key to achieving clinical-grade stability.

Engineering long-term stability in soft bioelectronics for clinical translation

The status of extracellular vesicles as drug carriers and therapeutics - Nature Reviews Bioengineering Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as biocompatible carriers for targeted drug delivery, yet challenges in yield, cargo loading and biodistribution persist. In this Review, key trends from over...

Excited to share our comprehensive analysis in
@natrevbioeng.nature.com examining where extracellular vesicles (EVs) stand as drug carriers and therapeutics. A labor of love synthesizing preclinical, clinical, biodistribution, and nanoparticle comparison data. nature.com/articles/s44...

The status of extracellular vesicles as drug carriers and therapeutics Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00405-xExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as biocompatible carriers for targeted drug delivery, yet challenges in yield, cargo loading and biodistribution persist. In this Review, key trends from over a decade of research are analysed, comparing EVs with lipid-based systems and outlining strategies for improving therapeutic translation and reporting standards.

ICYMI: The status of extracellular vesicles as drug carriers and therapeutics

The status of extracellular vesicles as drug carriers and therapeutics Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00405-xExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as biocompatible carriers for targeted drug delivery, yet challenges in yield, cargo loading and biodistribution persist. In this Review, key trends from over a decade of research are analysed, comparing EVs with lipid-based systems and outlining strategies for improving therapeutic translation and reporting standards.

The status of extracellular vesicles as drug carriers and therapeutics

Design principles of lipid nanoparticles for RNA delivery Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 02 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00401-1Lipid nanoparticles can serve as carriers for RNA therapies, enabling efficient encapsulation, cellular uptake and controlled protein expression. This Review explores their design principles, key components, physicochemical properties and therapeutic potential, highlighting how formulation parameters influence delivery performance.

ICYMI: Design principles of lipid nanoparticles for RNA delivery

Design principles of lipid nanoparticles for RNA delivery Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 02 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00401-1Lipid nanoparticles can serve as carriers for RNA therapies, enabling efficient encapsulation, cellular uptake and controlled protein expression. This Review explores their design principles, key components, physicochemical properties and therapeutic potential, highlighting how formulation parameters influence delivery performance.

Design principles of lipid nanoparticles for RNA delivery