Blood is a force-rich system. Beyond biochemistry, blood cells continually sense shear, stretch, and substrate rigidity, encode these inputs into biochemical and structural state changes, and adjust future behavior. We term this mechanical intelligence: an operational framework encompassing mechanosense, learning and memory, decision-making, and adaptive evolution. We synthesize evidence across red blood cells (RBCs), leukocytes, and platelets showing how mechanosensitive receptors (Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1, glycoprotein Ib-IX-V complex, and integrins), cytoskeletal feedback, and nuclear effectors (Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif and nuclear factor κB) couple mechanical cues to cellular states and functions (oxygen delivery, immune surveillance, and hemostasis). Repeated mechanical exposures produce mechanical memory (e.g., RBC fatigue and shape memory, shear-primed platelet hyperreactivity, and stiffness-modulated leukocyte transmigration) that improves performance in physiological contexts but contributes to pathology when dysregulated (vaso-occlusion, thrombosis, and inflammaging). We outline mechanodiagnostics (single-cell deformability cytometry, atomic force microscopy, and microfluidic thrombus profiling) and mechanotherapy (ion channel modulators, engineering cells, and mechanocompatible devices) and propose reporting standards, readiness levels, and validation pathways.

Miniature robots inspired by nature are appealing, and the achievement of their rapidity has become uncomplicated after years of development. However, one of the critical challenges of miniature robots is achieving rapidity and agile motions under high load capacity. To address this challenge, this work proposes a unique tripodal piezoelectric robot, featuring axisymmetric vibration modes and non-axisymmetrically arranged feet. On the one hand, by selecting appropriate vibration modes and arranging the 3 feet at unequal spacing, multidimensional and unequal amplitude actuation trajectories at different feet are achieved, enabling the robot to achieve agile motions. On the other hand, strong load capacity is realized through a high-stiffness ring base. The selected vibration modes and different actuation trajectories at foot ends are validated through simulation analysis. A prototype of the robot is developed, and a miniature specialized power supply is designed and integrated into the robot. The wireless linear and rotational speeds reach 93 mm/s and 438°/s, respectively, and the load capacity reaches 200 g, while the resolution is 0.63 μm. Owing to its small size, high load capacity, high resolution, and agility, the robot demonstrates potential for micro-manipulation applications and motion capabilities in confined spaces.

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is among the most lethal complications of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet its molecular mechanisms and immune features remain poorly characterized. To address this gap, we performed a comprehensive multi-omics analysis of 99 specimens from 47 patients, integrating nCounter profiling, single-cell RNA sequencing, digital spatial profiling, and proteomics to construct the first spatial map of the PVTT microenvironment. These analyses revealed marked intratumoral heterogeneity and enrichment of myofibroblast-like cancer-associated fibroblasts (myCAFs) arising through a macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition. Nidogen-1 (NID1) was identified as a stromal driver of immune barriers, highly expressed in PVTT cores and associated with impaired antitumor immunity. Guided by these mechanistic insights, we repurposed acarbose, a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, to inhibit the NID1 axis. Functional assays demonstrated that acarbose disrupted myCAF-mediated immune barriers, suppressed PVTT progression, and synergized with anti-programmed death-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy in preclinical models. Furthermore, analysis of an independent clinical cohort of 810 HCC patients revealed a substantially lower incidence of PVTT among those receiving acarbose, underscoring its translational potential. Collectively, these findings establish the immune–stromal landscape of PVTT, uncover NID1-driven stromal remodeling as a mechanism of immune evasion, and highlight drug repurposing as an immediately actionable strategy to improve outcomes in HCC with PVTT.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are ectopic lymphoid aggregates formed by lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells within chronic inflammatory microenvironments or tumor microenvironments (TMEs), and their initiation phase is a critical step for mounting an effective antitumor immune response. TLS initiation depends on the interplay between lymphoid tissue inducer cells and lymphoid tissue organizer cells and is finely regulated by multiple cytokines and chemokines. This review systematically summarizes the key triggers and signaling networks driving TLS initiation, elucidating how TLSs reshape the TMEs, facilitate antigen presentation, and recruit immune cells to enhance antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, potential strategies to modulate TLS initiation are discussed, along with the emerging role of TLSs as promising targets in cancer immunotherapy.

Leveraging living materials such as algae as sustainable photocatalytic platform is highly promising for mitigating antibiotic water pollution; however, they are confronted with low catalytic efficiency and difficulty in recovery, as imposed by their passive, static working mode. Herein, we report a Janus microgel robot (JMR) that features the integration of magnetic-controlled mobility and living photocatalytic function, allowing for substantially boosting antibiotic degradation efficiency and efficient recovery in an actively magnetic-controlled manner. The key to the JMR lies in harnessing gas shear microfluidic technique to manipulate the spatial distribution of TiO₂–Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Fe₃O₄ phases into a Janus architecture, followed by gel encapsulation to prevent cell leakage. Under simulated sunlight, the JMR system achieves 77% antibiotic degradation within 10 h, which is 10 times that of the free C. pyrenoidosa (7.6%). Moreover, we demonstrate that the JMR can be imparted with enhanced degradation efficiency by 10.6% and over 95% effectiveness through 3 consecutive operational cycles in actively magnetic-controlled mode. This work establishes a prototype for sustainable environmental biorobots and provides a novel strategy for photocatalytic-biological hybrid system design, advancing the next-generation living materials for water treatment.

Liposome-in-liposome systems with multicompartment structures offer advantages in structural complexity and functional programmability, but their application is limited by poor controllability in conventional fabrication. A recent Nature Chemistry study by Elani et al. reports a methodology to prepare sub-200-nm dual-layered liposomes, enabling customizable bilayers and adjustable interbilayer spaces. Their stepwise assembly approach promises to facilitate the integration of artificial intelligence expertise from unilamellar liposome research into liposome-in-liposome systems, thereby further optimizing formulations and enabling biological predictions. Consequently, this advancement may accelerate the clinical translation of liposomal drugs and advance frontier research in areas such as artificial organelles and lipid nanoparticles.

The efficient utilization of near-infrared (NIR) light remains a paramount challenge for solar-driven photocatalytic nitrogen fixation, primarily due to rapid energy dissipation of hot carriers via phonon scattering. Here, we construct a well-defined core–shell heterostructure through the in situ anchoring of an ultrathin, sulfur-vacancy-rich GeS_x shell onto gold nanorods (AuNRs)—an atomic-scale configuration that fundamentally suppresses phonon-mediated energy loss. This suppression, directly evidenced by transient absorption spectroscopy through reduced phonon frequency and scattering rate, prolongs the lifetime of plasmon-derived hot electrons. Combined with the vacancy-enabled activation of the robust N≡N bond at exposed Ge sites, this catalyst achieves an exceptional NH₃ production rate of 1,225.6 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under NIR irradiation and a remarkable apparent quantum efficiency of 1.23% at 880 nm—a performance that rivals many ultraviolet/visible-driven systems. Through in situ spectroscopy, transient absorption studies, and theoretical analysis, we elucidate the atomic-level origin of synergistic catalysis: the GeS_x shell not only suppresses phonon scattering by reducing phonon frequency and velocity, but also creates electron-deficient Ge sites that function as preferential centers for N₂ adsorption and activation, thereby bridging hot-carrier dynamics with molecular reduction kinetics. This work provides a definitive strategy for overcoming fundamental energy loss limitations in plasmonic photocatalysis by concurrently engineering the energy dissipation pathway and the atomic catalytic environment.

Present high-voltage Li-ion aqueous batteries largely rely on highly concentrated (up to 63 m) “water-in-salt” electrolyte with limited cycle life (<1,000 cycles) and little hope in practical application. To date, no dilute aqueous electrolyte (salt molality < 2 m) can reliably operate beyond 2 V with cycling life over 1,000 cycles. Here, we introduce a “methanesulfonate in phosphate” superstructure that simultaneously tailors Li⁺ migration in molecular crowding solvent and electrode surfaces, which enables an unprecedented electrochemical stability window (up to 4.5 V) and cyclability (up to 10,000 cycles) in a dilute 1.1-m aqueous electrolyte. In addition, Such methanesulfonate in phosphate electrolyte can be also applied in various high-voltage electrode couples, and the assembled 60-V, 15-A·h LiMn₂O₄/LiTi₂(PO₄)₃ aqueous battery can drive an electric bike for 70 km, highlighting the power of such electrolyte design in the commercialization of high-voltage aqueous batteries.

T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) is the most widely used enzyme for synthesizing therapeutic mRNA. However, RNA transcribed by T7 RNAP often contains double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) by-products that trigger innate immune responses and complicate purification. Here, we report an engineered T7 RNAP variant, M30, which exhibits higher catalytic efficiency and reduced dsRNA by-product formation. M30 was developed through 4 rounds of directed evolution using an ultrahigh-throughput aptamer-based fluorescence-activated droplet sorting system. M30 displays a 10-fold increase in catalytic efficiency over wild-type T7 RNAP at 37 °C, along with markedly enhanced thermostability and approximately 10-fold lower production of dsRNA by-products. mRNAs synthesized with M30 achieve efficient protein expression in human cells and in mice, while eliciting reduced immunogenicity compared with mRNAs produced by wild-type T7 RNAP. Biophysical assays and structural analyses suggest that these improvements result from increased DNA template binding affinity and decreased RNA binding affinity. Together, these features make M30 a promising catalyst for high-quality therapeutic mRNA production.

The poultry industry faces major challenges in preserving meat freshness and safety due to high water activity, rapid microbial growth, and oxidative spoilage. Traditional methods such as vacuum sealing and antioxidants are insufficient, as they cannot effectively suppress anaerobic pathogens and lack real-time freshness assessment. This review introduces a transformative strategy that applies coordination chemistry to design multifunctional nanomaterials for poultry preservation. Dynamic metal–ligand interactions—including redox-active centers, stimuli-responsive bonds, and host–guest adsorption—allow precise antibacterial control through 4 mechanisms: ligand-regulated ion release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, coordination-triggered antimicrobial delivery, and electrostatic membrane disruption. In addition, freshness can be monitored by biomarker-specific coordination responses, such as nanoparticle aggregation for optical signals or MOF (metal–organic framework)-based volatile amine capture for colorimetric and electrochemical detection. Integration with oxygen scavengers, humidity regulators, and pH-responsive systems optimizes the packaging environment. Coupling with digital technologies further enables intelligent platforms for autonomous quality validation and supply chain transparency. This approach connects molecular-scale coordination principles with engineering practice while addressing biodegradability, environmental resilience, and scalability to reduce waste and achieve sustainable poultry preservation.