Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 15 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00398-zAs artificial intelligence enters the scientific arena, it not only compels us to rethink the scientific method but also opens the door to reimagine long-standing practices.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00404-yPrecision health is based on multimodal, personal data from individuals. However, regulatory frameworks typically require collecting only what is strictly necessary, a standard that is difficult to define in biomedicine. Here we explore how data minimization can be embedded into precision health, turning privacy from a limitation into a guiding design principle for data collection, storage and governance.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00404-yPrecision health is based on multimodal, personal data from individuals. However, regulatory frameworks typically require collecting only what is strictly necessary, a standard that is difficult to define in biomedicine. Here we explore how data minimization can be embedded into precision health, turning privacy from a limitation into a guiding design principle for data collection, storage and governance.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 09 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00387-2mRNA technologies offer potential solutions for HIV-1 vaccine development by enabling rapid, safe and modular antigen design that can initiate rare antibody lineages required for broad protection. In this Review, we discuss preclinical and early clinical evidence, outline remaining challenges — particularly breadth and durability — and discuss delivery and manufacturing advances that may help translate these approaches into effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 09 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00387-2mRNA technologies offer potential solutions for HIV-1 vaccine development by enabling rapid, safe and modular antigen design that can initiate rare antibody lineages required for broad protection. In this Review, we discuss preclinical and early clinical evidence, outline remaining challenges — particularly breadth and durability — and discuss delivery and manufacturing advances that may help translate these approaches into effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 08 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00384-5Organoids offer physiologically relevant 3D models, yet translating them into clinical and industrial use requires robust analytical platforms. In this Review, key strategies for characterizing electrophysiological, biophysical and optical properties are discussed, alongside the integration of omics and computational technologies to decode organoid function and behaviour.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 07 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00381-8Delivering drugs directly to the lungs enables targeted treatment and long-term drug retention, while minimizing systemic side effects. This Review explores the design of microrobotic platforms engineered for pulmonary drug delivery.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 07 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00391-6Mechanical forces are crucial regulators of biological functions in health and disease, offering measurable biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This Review introduces the principles of mechanomedicine and highlights its translational potential across scales, from tissue diagnostics to molecular mechanotherapeutics.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 08 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00384-5Organoids offer physiologically relevant 3D models, yet translating them into clinical and industrial use requires robust analytical platforms. In this Review, key strategies for characterizing electrophysiological, biophysical and optical properties are discussed, alongside the integration of omics and computational technologies to decode organoid function and behaviour.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 07 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00381-8Delivering drugs directly to the lungs enables targeted treatment and long-term drug retention, while minimizing systemic side effects. This Review explores the design of microrobotic platforms engineered for pulmonary drug delivery.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 07 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00391-6Mechanical forces are crucial regulators of biological functions in health and disease, offering measurable biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This Review introduces the principles of mechanomedicine and highlights its translational potential across scales, from tissue diagnostics to molecular mechanotherapeutics.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 06 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00378-3Continuous neuromonitoring is vital for guiding neurocritical care, yet artefacts frequently obscure cerebral physiological signals and hinder clinical decisions. In this Review, sources of artefacts and their clinical impact are examined, alongside emerging strategies — both knowledge-based and data-driven — for artefact mitigation, sensor design and artificial intelligence-enabled real-time monitoring in precision neurocare.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 06 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00378-3Continuous neuromonitoring is vital for guiding neurocritical care, yet artefacts frequently obscure cerebral physiological signals and hinder clinical decisions. In this Review, sources of artefacts and their clinical impact are examined, alongside emerging strategies — both knowledge-based and data-driven — for artefact mitigation, sensor design and artificial intelligence-enabled real-time monitoring in precision neurocare.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 05 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00377-4Cellulose crystals can be engineered at the molecular level, creating porous structures consisting of aligned, functionalized nanochannels. This approach enables the development of advanced materials with directional ion transport and antimicrobial properties for applications such as thermoelectric devices, solid-state batteries and long-lasting antimicrobial textiles.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 05 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00377-4Cellulose crystals can be engineered at the molecular level, creating porous structures consisting of aligned, functionalized nanochannels. This approach enables the development of advanced materials with directional ion transport and antimicrobial properties for applications such as thermoelectric devices, solid-state batteries and long-lasting antimicrobial textiles.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 02 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00389-0Droplet microfluidics enables the precise fabrication of microgels, which are microscale hydrogel particles that serve as modular building blocks for biomaterials. This Review outlines principles of microfluidic microgel production, strategies for tailoring structure and functionality, and applications spanning drug delivery, cell culture and tissue engineering, while highlighting current challenges and future directions.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 02 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00389-0Droplet microfluidics enables the precise fabrication of microgels, which are microscale hydrogel particles that serve as modular building blocks for biomaterials. This Review outlines principles of microfluidic microgel production, strategies for tailoring structure and functionality, and applications spanning drug delivery, cell culture and tissue engineering, while highlighting current challenges and future directions.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 22 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00399-yClimate change and geopolitical uncertainties require proactive measures to ensure food security and human resilience, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practices and soil preservation. We explore innovative solutions to preserve, improve and restore soil health and highlight how they can address global soil degradation and ensure sustainable food production.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 22 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00399-yClimate change and geopolitical uncertainties require proactive measures to ensure food security and human resilience, with a focus on sustainable agricultural practices and soil preservation. We explore innovative solutions to preserve, improve and restore soil health and highlight how they can address global soil degradation and ensure sustainable food production.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 15 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00400-8Ageing, disease and trauma can lead to impaired muscle function, which could be restored by implantable artificial muscles. Here we outline key performance metrics required for soft artificial muscles to restore function in stress urinary incontinence and to enable sit-to-stand transfer.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 15 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00394-3Wearable biosensors can continuously monitor disease biomarkers, therapeutic drugs and health-related analytes to provide real-time diagnostic insights. The wearable biosensor Aptalyzer integrates hydrogel microneedles and an electrochemical aptamer-based biosensor to assess biomarkers in the skin interstitial fluid.

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Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 15 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00400-8Ageing, disease and trauma can lead to impaired muscle function, which could be restored by implantable artificial muscles. Here we outline key performance metrics required for soft artificial muscles to restore function in stress urinary incontinence and to enable sit-to-stand transfer.

Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 15 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00394-3Wearable biosensors can continuously monitor disease biomarkers, therapeutic drugs and health-related analytes to provide real-time diagnostic insights. The wearable biosensor Aptalyzer integrates hydrogel microneedles and an electrochemical aptamer-based biosensor to assess biomarkers in the skin interstitial fluid.