{"title":"Light-powered phagocytic macrophage microrobot (phagobot): both in vitro and in vivo.","authors":"Xing Li,Shuhan Zhong,Ting Pan,Jianyun Xiong,Guoshuai Zhu,Yang Shi,Hongbao Xin","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01881-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01881-3","url":null,"abstract":"Micro/nanorobots based on immune cells show great potential for addressing challenging biological and biomedical conditions. However, their powerful innate immune functions, particularly the phagocytosis capabilities, remain a big challenge to fully leverage with the current designs of immune cell-based microrobots. Herein, we report a light-powered phagocytic macrophage microrobot (phagobot), which is capable of robotic navigation toward specific foreign bio-threats and executing precise phagocytosis of these targeted entities under light control. Without genetic modification or nanoengineering of macrophages, the phagobot's \"wake-up\" program is achieved through direct activation of a resting-state macrophage by a tightly focused near-infrared (NIR) light beam. The phagobot exhibits robotic steering and directional navigation controlled by optical manipulation of the extended pseudopodia within the activated macrophage. It can further execute targeted phagocytic clearance tasks via engulfing various foreign bio-threats, including nanoplastics, microbials, and cancer cell debris. Notably, the phagobot can be constructed in a living larval zebrafish through optical activation and manipulation of the endogenous macrophage, which also exhibits controllable navigation and targeted phagocytic capabilities in vivo. With the intrinsic immune functions of macrophages, our light-powered phagobot represents a novel form of intelligent immune cell-based microrobots, holding many new possibilities for precise immune regulation and treatment for immune-related diseases.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"234 1","pages":"202"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High responsivity colloidal quantum dots phototransistors for low-dose near-infrared photodetection and image communication.","authors":"Shijie Zhan,Benxuan Li,Tong Chen,Yudi Tu,Hong Ji,Diyar Mousa Othman,Mingfei Xiao,Renjun Liu,Zuhong Zhang,Ying Tang,Wenlong Ming,Meng Li,Hang Zhou,Bo Hou","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01853-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01853-7","url":null,"abstract":"The surging demand and adoption of infrared photodetectors (IRPDs) in sectors of imaging, mobile, healthcare, automobiles, and optical communication are hindered by the prohibitive costs of traditional IRPD materials such as InGaAs and HgCdTe. Quantum dots (QDs), especially lead chalcogenide (PbS) QDs, represent the next-generation low-bandgap semiconductors for near-infrared (NIR) detection due to their high optical absorption coefficient, tunable bandgap, low fabrication costs, and device compatibility. Innovative techniques such as ligand exchange processes have been proposed to boost the performance of PbS QDs photodetectors, mostly using short ligands like 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) and tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI). Our study explores the use of long-chain dithiol ligands to enhance the responsivity of PbS QDs/InGaZnO phototransistors. Long-chain dithiol ligands are found to suppress horizontal electron transport/leakage and electron trapping, which is beneficial for responsivity. Utilizing a novel ligand-exchange technique with 1,10-decanedithiol (DDT), we develop high-performance hybrid phototransistors with detectivity exceeding 1014 Jones. Based on these phototransistors, we demonstrate image communication through a NIR optical communication system. The long-ligand PbS QDs/InGaZnO hybrid phototransistor demonstrates significant potential for NIR low-dose imaging and optical communication, particularly in scenarios requiring the detection of weak light signals at low frequencies.","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"30 1","pages":"201"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dispersion-engineered spin photonics based on folded-path metasurfaces","authors":"Fei Zhang, Hanlin Bao, Mingbo Pu, Yinghui Guo, Tongtong Kang, Xiong Li, Qiong He, Mingfeng Xu, Xiaoliang Ma, Xiangang Luo","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01850-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01850-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Spin photonics revolutionizes photonic technology by enabling precise manipulation of photon spin states, with spin-decoupled metasurfaces emerging as pivotal in complex optical field manipulation. Here, we propose a folded-path metasurface concept that enables independent dispersion and phase control of two opposite spin states, effectively overcoming the limitations of spin photonics in achieving broadband decoupling and higher integration levels. This advanced dispersion engineering is achieved by modifying the equivalent length of a folded path, generated by a virtual reflective surface, in contrast to previous methods that depended on effective refractive index control by altering structural geometries. Our approach unlocks previously unattainable capabilities, such as achieving achromatic focusing and achromatic spin Hall effect using the rotational degree of freedom, and generating spatiotemporal vector optical fields with only a single metasurface. This advancement substantially broadens the potential of metasurface-based spin photonics, extending its applications from the spatial domain to the spatiotemporal domain.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144066261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giulio Gualandi, Simone Atzeni, Marco Gardina, Antonino Caime, Giacomo Corrielli, Ivan Labanca, Angelo Gulinatti, Ivan Rech, Roberto Osellame, Giulia Acconcia, Francesco Ceccarelli
{"title":"Laser-written reconfigurable photonic integrated circuit directly coupled to a single-photon avalanche diode array","authors":"Giulio Gualandi, Simone Atzeni, Marco Gardina, Antonino Caime, Giacomo Corrielli, Ivan Labanca, Angelo Gulinatti, Ivan Rech, Roberto Osellame, Giulia Acconcia, Francesco Ceccarelli","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01854-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01854-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To date, most integrated quantum photonics experiments rely on single-photon detectors operating at cryogenic temperatures coupled to photonic integrated circuits (PICs) through single-mode optical fibers. This approach presents significant challenges due to the detection complexity, as cryogenic conditions hinder the development of scalable systems. In addition, going towards fully-integrated devices or, at least, removing the optical fibers would be also advantageous to develop compact and cost-efficient solutions featuring a high number of optical modes. This work reports on the direct coupling of a PIC, fabricated by femtosecond laser writing (FLW), and a silicon single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array, fabricated in a custom planar technology and compatible with the operation at room temperature. The effectiveness of this solution is shown by achieving perfect coupling and a system detection efficiency as high as 41.0% at a wavelength of 561 nm, which is the highest value reported to date among both heterogeneous/hybrid integrated and directly coupled systems. We also show the robustness of the coupling to misalignments, demonstrating that costly alignment procedures are not needed. Finally, we exploit the SPAD array to characterize a reconfigurable Mach-Zehnder interferometer, i.e., the basic building block of multimode reconfigurable PICs. This solution provides a new avenue to the design and implementation of quantum photonics experiments, especially effective when compact and cost-efficient systems are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144066262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dual-step photo-induced self-assembled hydrogel for endogenous oral mucosal wound healing","authors":"Shaojun Fang, Qiangqiang Zhou, Mengqi Zhou, Changyi Li, Huaxing Xu, Hongyu Tang, Wanlu Zhang, Ruiqian Guo, Xiaoling Wei, Rongjun Zhang","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01837-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01837-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>By introducing piezoelectric materials into hydrogel oral dressings, a microelectric field could be generated under stress stimulation, thus facilitating oral wound healing. However, to adapt to the moist and dynamic environment of the oral cavity, traditional “step-by-step” synthesis often requires the combination of materials with different functionalities. Given the property differences between these materials, this strategy typically involves complex experimental procedures and unnecessary energy consumption. In this study, with the concept of “integrated construction”, we innovatively proposed a dual-step photo-induced method and successfully fabricated composite hydrogels with excellent performance. We introduced abundant oxygen vacancies into ZnO, leveraging the enhanced interface dynamics to achieve sustained photo-induced effect. With a double-network polymer framework as a template, this method could achieve the photo-induced spontaneous in-situ synthesis of polydopamine (PDA) within hydrogel without any extra special experimental conditions and complex operation procedures. We conducted a thorough analysis of the mechanism underlying this photo-induced method and applied the as-prepared hydrogel for the treatment of oral wounds, which significantly accelerated the healing process due to the outstanding comprehensive performance of hydrogel. These results suggest novel ideas and theoretical support for the facile construction of high-performance hydrogels based on photodynamic principles, demonstrating immense potential for future applications in wound dressings.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143979535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diana Pereira, Torsten Wieduwilt, Walter Hauswald, Matthias Zeisberger, Marta S. Ferreira, Markus A. Schmidt
{"title":"3D nanoprinted fiber-interfaced hollow-core waveguides for high-accuracy nanoparticle tracking analysis","authors":"Diana Pereira, Torsten Wieduwilt, Walter Hauswald, Matthias Zeisberger, Marta S. Ferreira, Markus A. Schmidt","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01827-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01827-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The integration of functional components into flexible photonic environments is a critical area of research in integrated photonics and is essential for high-precision sensing. This work presents a novel concept of interfacing square-core hollow-core waveguides with commercially available optical fibers using 3D nanoprinting, and demonstrates its practical relevance through a nanoscience-based characterization technique. In detail, this innovative concept results in a monolithic, fully fiber-integrated device with key advantages such as alignment-free operation, high-purity fundamental mode excitation, full polarization control, and a unique handling flexibility. For the first time, the application potential of a fiber-interfaced waveguide in nanoscale analysis is demonstrated by performing nanoparticle-tracking-analysis experiments. These experiments involve the tracking and analysis of individual gold nanospheres diffusing in the hollow core waveguide, enabled by nearly aberration-free imaging, extended observation times, and homogeneous light-line illumination. The study comprehensively covers design strategy, experimental implementation, key principles, optical characterization, and practical applications. The fiber-interfaced hollow-core waveguide concept offers significant potential for applications in bioanalytics, environmental sciences, quantum technologies, optical manipulation, and life sciences. It also paves the way for the development of novel all-fiber devices that exploit enhanced light-matter interaction in a monolithic form suitable for flexible and remote applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143979438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Song Wang, Shihao Liu, Ting Wang, Jialin Bai, Jingyu Peng, Hanzhuang Zhang, Wenfa Xie, Wenyu Ji
{"title":"Operando ZnO recrystallization for efficient quantum-dot light-emitting diodes","authors":"Song Wang, Shihao Liu, Ting Wang, Jialin Bai, Jingyu Peng, Hanzhuang Zhang, Wenfa Xie, Wenyu Ji","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01867-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01867-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) play a crucial role in advancing quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) because of their excellent electron transport properties. While the conductivity of ZnO is determined by both the density and mobility of charge carriers, a previously overlooked problem is that excessive carrier density in ZnO can lead to nonradiative Auger recombination at the quantum-dot/ZnO interface. An ideal electron transport layer should possess both high mobility and low carrier density. Here, we achieve such transport properties in ZnO NP films through operando recrystallization, a process triggered by the diffusion of Al ions from the cathode under acidic conditions. This diffusion induces the coalescence of neighboring ZnO NPs, forming defect-passivated, long-range ZnO crystals. When used as the electron transport layer in QLEDs, recrystallized ZnO NPs enhance the external quantum efficiency from 17.2% to 33.7% compared with devices with conventional ZnO electron transport layers. These findings offer valuable insights into the development of charge transport materials for high-performance optoelectronic devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"143 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143979536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huwei Li, Kai Li, Zheyu Li, Xinyu Fu, Qingxing Yang, Nan Wang, Xinyu Wang, Jing Feng, Shuyan Song, Hongjie Zhang
{"title":"Lanthanide-based metal halides prepared at room temperature by recrystallization method for X-ray imaging","authors":"Huwei Li, Kai Li, Zheyu Li, Xinyu Fu, Qingxing Yang, Nan Wang, Xinyu Wang, Jing Feng, Shuyan Song, Hongjie Zhang","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01839-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01839-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lanthanide (Ln)-based metal halides with excellent luminescence properties, large Stokes shifts, and low toxicity have aroused wide attention as scintillators for X-ray imaging. However, the lack of fast and mild synthesis methods of Ln-based metal halides, as one of the technical challenges, limits their applications. Here, benefiting from the innovative selection of methanol and ethanol as the solvent and anti-solvent, respectively, a series of Cs<sub>3</sub>LnCl<sub>6</sub> (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) microcrystals (MCs) were prepared via the recrystallization method at room temperature for the first time. This recrystallization method could also realize large-scale production at one time and recyclable recrystallization of single-element MCs and the preparation of high-entropy five-element Cs<sub>3</sub>{TbDyHoErTm}<sub>1</sub>Cl<sub>6</sub> crystals. Among these Cs<sub>3</sub>LnCl<sub>6</sub> MCs, Cs<sub>3</sub>TbCl<sub>6</sub> MCs with 4f → 5d absorption transition possess the highest photoluminescence quantum yield of 90.8%. Besides, under X-ray irradiation, Cs<sub>3</sub>TbCl<sub>6</sub> MCs show a high light yield of ~51,800 photons MeV<sup>−1</sup> and the as-fabricated thin films possess promising X-ray imaging ability and excellent spatial resolutions (12 lp mm<sup>−1</sup>). This work provides a new method for ultrafast preparing Ln-based metal halides under mild synthetic conditions and highlights their excellent potential as scintillators for X-ray imaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"114 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143945964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quantum CZ gates on a single gradient metasurface","authors":"Qi Liu, Yu Tian, Zhaohua Tian, Yali Jia, Guixin Li, Xi-Feng Ren, Qihuang Gong, Ying Gu","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01871-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01871-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>For the requirement of quantum photonic integration in on-chip quantum information, we propose a scheme to realize quantum controlled-Z (CZ) gates through single gradient metasurface. Using its parallel beam-splitting feature, i.e., a series of connected beamsplitters with the same splitting ratio, one metasurface can support a polarization encoding CZ gate or path encoding CZ gate, several independent CZ gates, and cascade CZ gates. Taking advantage that the path of output state is locked by the polarization of input state, path encoding CZ gates can efficiently filter out bit-flip errors coming from beam-splitting processes. These CZ gates also have the potential to detect quantum errors and generate high-dimensional entanglement through multi-degree-of-freedom correlation on metasurfaces. By integrating quantum CZ gates into a single metasurface, our results open an avenue for high-density and multifunctional integration of quantum devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"230 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143940284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea Rossetti, Huatian Hu, Tommaso Venanzi, Adel Bousseksou, Federico De Luca, Thomas Deckert, Valeria Giliberti, Marialilia Pea, Isabelle Sagnes, Gregoire Beaudoin, Paolo Biagioni, Enrico Baù, Stefan A. Maier, Andreas Tittl, Daniele Brida, Raffaele Colombelli, Michele Ortolani, Cristian Ciracì
{"title":"Control and enhancement of optical nonlinearities in plasmonic semiconductor nanostructures","authors":"Andrea Rossetti, Huatian Hu, Tommaso Venanzi, Adel Bousseksou, Federico De Luca, Thomas Deckert, Valeria Giliberti, Marialilia Pea, Isabelle Sagnes, Gregoire Beaudoin, Paolo Biagioni, Enrico Baù, Stefan A. Maier, Andreas Tittl, Daniele Brida, Raffaele Colombelli, Michele Ortolani, Cristian Ciracì","doi":"10.1038/s41377-025-01783-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01783-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The efficiency of nanoscale nonlinear elements in photonic integrated circuits is hindered by the physical limits to the nonlinear optical response of dielectrics, which cannot be engineered as it is a fundamental material property. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that ultrafast optical nonlinearities in doped semiconductors can be engineered and can easily exceed those of conventional undoped dielectrics. The electron response of heavily doped semiconductors acquires in fact a hydrodynamic character that introduces nonlocal effects as well as additional nonlinear sources. Our experimental findings are supported by a comprehensive computational analysis based on the hydrodynamic model. In particular, by studying third-harmonic generation from plasmonic nanoantenna arrays made out of heavily n-doped InGaAs with increasing levels of free-carrier density, we discriminate between hydrodynamic and dielectric nonlinearities. Most importantly, we demonstrate that the maximum nonlinear efficiency as well as its spectral location can be engineered by tuning the doping level. Crucially, the maximum efficiency can be increased by almost two orders of magnitude with respect to the classical dielectric nonlinearity. Having employed the common material platform InGaAs/InP that supports integrated waveguides, our findings pave the way for future exploitation of plasmonic nonlinearities in all-semiconductor photonic integrated circuits.</p>","PeriodicalId":18069,"journal":{"name":"Light-Science & Applications","volume":"113 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143940283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}