Reviews & Analysis

This PrimeView highlights common artifacts that occur in holotomographic imaging and the ways in which these can be avoided or mitigated.

Holotomography is a 3D, label-free optical imaging method for visualizing living tissues and cells. In this Primer, Kim et al. discuss the implementation of holotomography in various applications ranging from cell biology to biophysics and biotechnology.

This PrimeView highlights the use of Fourier transforms to convert signals to frequency domains, with utility across the analytical sciences.

The Fourier transform is a mathematical tool for analysing signals that vary in space or time via a transform into the frequency domain. This Primer explores how the Fourier transform is used in analytical science, particularly for spectroscopic data, with an overview of theoretical and experimental considerations.

This PrimeView highlights how tip-enhanced Raman scattering experiments can target specific material properties to elucidate their chemical composition and structure.

Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) can be used to access the molecular composition and structure of surfaces with extreme lateral and depth resolution, down to the nanometre scale and beyond. In this Primer, Höppener et al. discuss the underlying physical principles driving the signal enhancement and lateral resolution of TERS.

This PrimeView highlights physical phenomena that can be investigated with RIXS.

Element-specific electronic properties can be probed using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS). A combination of X-ray absorption and emission, RIXS can investigate collective excitations in energy and momentum space. This Primer explores both valence and core RIXS, including background theory, experimental set-up, data analysis and example applications.

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.