Accounts of materials research最新文献

{"title":"Biological Membrane-Inspired Covalent Organic Frameworks for Biointegration and Structure–Function Design","authors":"Mengchu Feng, Xiao Feng, Yuanyuan Zhang, Bo Wang","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.6c00057","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biologicalmembranes constitute the fundamentalscaffolding oflife, serving as sophisticated interfaces that drive cellular functionthrough the spatial compartmentalization of functional units. Theyintegrate enzymatic catalysis, molecular recognition, and regulatedtransport within finely tuned microenvironments, ensuring exceptionalefficiency, selectivity, and resilience in biological conversion networks.Translating these advantages beyond native biological contexts remainsa central objective in chemical manufacturing, biotechnology, andbiomedicine. However, the inherent fragility of enzymes and livingcells outside physiological environments, combined with the mismatchbetween the survival-oriented nature of biological systems and theperformance-driven requirements of industrial manufacturing, hinderstheir broader application. Therefore, bridging the biological sophisticationwith industrial rigor necessitates the development of programmablesynthetic platforms capable of re-encoding these membrane-inspiredprinciples into robust and functional material architectures.</p><p>Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), featuring long-range-orderedstructures, finely tunable nanochannels, high porosity, and chemicallytailorable frameworks, offer a compelling platform to address thischallenge. Their molecular-level programmability enables precise controlover pore sizes and interfacial chemistry, allowing for the constructionof confined microenvironments commensurate with biomacromolecules.Beyond serving as immobilization supports, the structural precisionof COFs enables function-driven biomimetic engineering. Deeper investigationsinto biointegration strategies and membrane-mimetic design withinCOFs are essential for advancing next-generation catalytic, energy,and biomedical materials.</p><p>In this Account, we summarize ourgroup’s efforts to bridgebiological function with COF design along two complementary directions.First, we develop COF-based biointegrated confined microreactors thatengineer membrane-inspired catalytic environments for enzymes andliving cells. By tailoring confinement dimensions, engineering hydration-likemicroenvironments, and modulating covalent anchoring interactions,COFs create protective yet tunable nanoscale compartments that stabilizebiomacromolecules and optimize their conformations. The assembly ofselective transport channels at biointerfaces further enables efficientsubstrate exchange while excluding detrimental species, extendingbiocatalysis into harsh or non-native environments. Importantly, theseconfined architectures further support functional expansion towardcontinuous-flow operation, multienzyme, and chemoenzymatic cascadesystems, transforming isolated biological components into versatile,integrated catalytic platforms. Second, moving beyond biointegration,we demonstrate that COFs can be designed to emulate core structuraland functional attributes of biological membranes. Through hydrophilicity-gradientnanochannels, adaptive li","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 8","pages":"844–859"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148859064","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":"Atomic Layer Deposition for Zinc-Ion Batteries: Nanoarchitectonics for Next-Generation Energy Solution","authors":"Shaista Nouseen,&nbsp;Sujit Deshmukh,&nbsp;Martin Pumera","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00326","DOIUrl":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00326","url":null,"abstract":"<p>With theexisting boom in the requirement for energy storage devicesfor a broad range of applications, ranging from portable to wearabledevices, different types of batteries such as zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs),lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), sodium-ion batteries, aluminum-ion batteries,etc., have been currently explored. Among them, recently ZIBs havebeen extensively studied as an alternative to LIBs because of theirinherent safety, high theoretical capacity, low cost, and sustainableapproaches. Nevertheless, several limitations impede their practicalapplications, which include Zn dendrite growth and corrosion on theanode side, side reactions, cathode dissolution, etc. To address theseconcerns, enormous efforts have been under investigation, such asdeveloping novel cathode materials with customized electrode design,integrating different nanoengineering techniques and composite materials,anticipated to achieve excellent ZIB electrochemical performance.In this context, atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique is garneringsignificant attention, offering several benefits like a meticulous,scalable, and sustainable approach, with great potential in generatingprotective nanoengineered layers on the surface of the anode and thecathode components of ZIBs with conformal film thickness and atomic-levelprecision, which is extremely difficult to achieve with other existingtechniques, such as chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition.</p><p>In this Account, we highlight the evolution and progress of theALD technique, where ALD-modified electrodes are employed for electrochemicalenergy conversion and storage applications. First, we provide a briefintroduction of the ZIBs as a sustainable energy storage solutionand ALD technology as an innovative technique to modify the anodeand the cathode surface of electrodes. Furthermore, the fundamentalelectrochemistry of ZIB, including the challenges faced on the cathodeand anode surface of electrodes, is discussed; in addition, the fundamentalchemistry of the ALD technique and its mechanism are discussed. Next,the crucial role of the ALD technique to modify cathode and anodesurfaces, to tackle several ZIBs’ challenges including cathodedissolution, Zn anode corrosion, and dendrite growth, is briefly discussed.Finally, we attempt to conclude that ALD is a viable solution to resolvethe challenges associated with ZIBs and provide a perspective on thefuture research direction of the ALD technology for ZIBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 8","pages":"832–843"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148336301","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":"DNA Framework Nanomachines for Translational Medicine","authors":"Lixuan Lin,Kai Jiao,Linjie Guo,Chunhai Fan,Jiang Li","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.6c00090","url":null,"abstract":"Precise treatment of intractable diseases such as cancer using nanomachines epitomizes a grand aspiration in biomedical science. Among the various approaches, nanomachines offer a promising route with molecular precision. Despite notable progress in recent decades, clinical translation of such machines remains constrained by the complexity of the physiological environment. Multitiered biological barriers limit their targeted distribution across human-scale distances, while intricate bionano interactions raise substantial challenges concerning in vivo efficacy, targeting specificity, and biocompatibility. DNA, the primary carrier of genetic information, is now repurposed to exhibit functions that extend beyond the central dogma. Leveraging its programmable and predictable self-assembly, DNA has become a transformative material for engineering precise nanoscale structures, molecular circuits, and functional nanomachines, demonstrating increasing translational potential in biomedicine.\u0000In this Account, we review recent advances in the design of DNA framework nanomachines. We first introduce programmable DNA frameworks, which serve as versatile platforms for the precise, nanoscale spatial organization of functional modules, resulting in emergent properties and functionalities differing from conventional DNA molecules. We next describe how DNA structures generate mechanical outputs, such as structural reconfiguration, establishing the foundation for nanomachines. Meanwhile, DNA computation, driven by molecular reactions, has demonstrated capabilities including Boolean logic, pattern recognition, and temporally resolved discrimination of multiple inputs. We discuss the integration of mechanical actuation and DNA computation into intelligent nanomachines, which can sense environmental cues, process complex environmental information and produce structural-functional outputs. Importantly, these structures can be engineered to traverse in vivo hierarchical biological barriers, from tissues and cells to subcellular compartments. We discuss how DNA framework structures overcome like-charge attraction with cell membranes via corner-attack modes and caveolin-mediated uptake, penetrate skin and ocular barriers in a size-dependent manner, and achieve renal or lymphatic targeting. Recent investigations have elucidated critical interactions between these nanostructures and multilevel biological interfaces, such as immune modulatory effects, thereby illuminating their underlying mechanisms and advancing clinical translation prospects. We propose that topical drug delivery based on DNA frameworks is approaching clinical translation. In the near term, plausible directions include systemic delivery applications such as kidney disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as vaccination against pathogens and tumors. Looking ahead, intelligent DNA framework nanomachines may implement automated, adaptive, multidimensional theranostics, advancing the vision of precision medici","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148858317","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":"Boron Carbon Nitride: Is It a Metal-Free MXene?","authors":"Sharin Harriesh Victor,&nbsp;Gurwinder Singh,&nbsp;Ajayan Vinu,&nbsp;Devaraj Sappani","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00144","DOIUrl":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00144","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 8","pages":"801–807"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148564944","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":"Reflection on Previous New PI Viewpoint “Toward Sustainable 3D Printing” (2020)","authors":"Hortense Le Ferrand","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00076","DOIUrl":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00076","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 8","pages":"789–791"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148858315","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":"Water as a Building Block in Supramolecular Soft Materials","authors":"Merlin R. Stühler,&nbsp;Alex J. Plajer","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.6c00148","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 8","pages":"796–800"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148859028","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":"Computational and AI-Assisted Rational Design of MOF-Based Catalysts for DCPD Hydrogenation","authors":"Yifan Zhang,Zuoshuai Xi,Zhimeng Liu,Hongyi Gao,Ge Wang","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00188","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.6c00188","url":null,"abstract":"Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile platforms for heterogeneous catalysis, owing to their structural tunability, well-defined active sites, and tailorable pore environments. Achieving efficient hydrogenation of complex molecules under mild conditions, however, remains challenging because the catalytic performance is highly sensitive to the local electronic and structural microenvironment of active sites. The stepwise hydrogenation of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), which involves multiple unsaturated bonds and competing reaction pathways, provides a representative model system for elucidating these structure–activity relationships.\u0000Over the past decade, MOF-based catalysts, including pristine frameworks, single-atom catalysts (SACs), and nanocluster/nanoparticle-loaded systems, have shown significant potential for hydrogenation reactions. Nevertheless, rational catalyst design remains difficult because framework topology, electronic structure, defect distribution, and metal–support interactions are strongly coupled across multiple length scales. As a result, establishing generalizable design principles through empirical approaches alone can be challenging.\u0000In this Account, we present an integrated strategy for the rational design of MOF-based catalysts for DCPD hydrogenation by combining computational chemistry with artificial intelligence (AI). This framework bridges atomistic-level mechanistic understanding with synthesis optimization, enabling precise control of the catalytic performance.\u0000At the atomic and electronic levels, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and descriptor-based analyses reveal key mechanistic factors governing hydrogen activation, charge redistribution, and reaction energetics. These studies guide the rational design of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) in pristine MOFs through the optimization of charge distributions for heterolytic H2 cleavage. Extending this concept to SACs, electronic structure engineering demonstrates how metal–support interactions and d-band modulation regulate the adsorption behavior and reaction pathways. At larger scales, investigations of nanometer clusters and nanoparticle-loaded systems further highlight the critical role of interfacial electronic structures, including electron transfer and hydrogen spillover, in enhancing the catalytic activity.\u0000Complementing these mechanistic insights, machine learning (ML) and large language model (LLM) driven approaches are employed to address the complexity of MOF synthesis. Data-driven models efficiently explore high-dimensional synthetic parameter spaces, enabling defect engineering and multiobjective optimization of catalytic properties. Furthermore, the integration of LLMs with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) supports closed-loop synthesis frameworks in which the experimental design, data analysis, and knowledge extraction are autonomously coordinated. These AI-assisted methodologies significantly accelerate catalyst optimizati","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148821817","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":"Anisotropic Single-Crystalline Ti-Based Oxides for Photocatalytic Water Splitting","authors":"Meng Min Wang,&nbsp;Peng Cheng Ding,&nbsp;Peng Fei Liu,&nbsp;Hua Gui Yang","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00380","DOIUrl":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00380","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;Solar-driven water splittingprovides a clean and essential pathwayto green hydrogen for future, sustainable energy systems. Among thedeveloped photocatalytic materials, inorganic semiconductors are particularlyattractive because of their earth abundance, scalable synthesis, andpotential for high-energy conversion efficiency. Prototypical Ti-basedoxide single crystals, such as TiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and SrTiO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, have been extensively investigated as model photocatalysts, owingto their well-defined electronic structures and excellent chemicalstability. However, two fundamental limitations remain: the inefficientseparation and migration of photogenerated charge carriers, and thespatial colocalization of hydrogen and oxygen evolution sites. Together,these factors lead to severe charge recombination and promote back-reactions,thereby substantially constraining the overall efficiency of photocatalyticwater splitting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Long-standing efforts in this field have consistentlyhighlightedfacet engineering as a powerful means of overcoming these criticallimitations. Facet-dependent modulation imparts crystallographic anisotropydirectly to the key functional attributes of the photocatalyst, manifestingas directional enhancements in charge separation efficiency and interfacialreaction kinetics. In this regard, facet-specific atomic electronicengineering induces internal electric fields that direct charge migrationand isolate redox sites, therefore boosting photocatalytic water splitting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this Account, we provide a comprehensive review of our group’sprogress over the past two decades in controlling anisotropic facetsin Ti-based oxides. By developing a suite of controllable syntheticstrategies based on liquid-phase and solid-state routes, we demonstrate,guided by Wulff theory, that inorganic ions and organic small moleculescan systematically modulate the surface energies of specific crystalfacets, thereby enabling rational, theory-informed facet engineering.We have established a series of strategies for preparing single-crystallineTiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and SrTiO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; with well-defined anisotropicsurface structures. These efforts have deepened our understandingof the intrinsic structure–activity relationships that connectcrystallographic architecture to photocatalytic performance. We highlighthow advances in characterization techniques in recent years have greatlysharpened our understanding of facet-dependent charge transport andsurface reaction kinetics. We anticipate that these insights willprovide a robust foundation for future developments in the field,including the rational design of facet-specific catalysts, detailedelucidation of interfacial reaction mechanisms, and the coordinatedintegration of multiscale theoretical and experimental approaches.A more explicit link between structure and function is expected toplay a decisive role in guiding the development of high-efficiencyphotocatalytic systems and in accelerating the practical implem","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 7","pages":"686–698"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148624932","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":"Hydroxylated Conjugated Polymers: A Versatile and Robust Class of Mixed Ionic/Electronic Conductors","authors":"Yasmina Al Yaman,&nbsp;Tommaso Nicolini,&nbsp;Rana Nakar,&nbsp;Olivier Dautel,&nbsp;Natalie Stingelin","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00267","DOIUrl":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00267","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Specific classes of π-conjugatedpolymeric materials havein recent years gained considerable attention for their ability toconduct both ions and electrons/holes, which is an important characteristicfor the use of these interesting plastics in applications such asneuromorphic devices, wearable sensors, electrochemical energy conversion,and organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), to name a few. Besidethe commercially available poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate(PEDOT:PSS) complex that is widely used in, e.g., the display industry,single-component systems such as π-conjugated macromoleculessubstituted with highly polar oligoethylene side chains─i.e.,“glycolated” polymers─have dominated the landscapeof plastic mixed conductors. Other promising options have, however,remained rather unexplored. In this Account, we summarize effortsby the present authors to advance alternative materials and to expandthe polymer library targeted for applications that require mixed conduction.Specific focus is on conjugated polymers functionalized with hydroxylatedside chains. Fundamental materials properties are examined, concentratingon the photoelectrochemical characteristics and ionic/electronic mixed-conductionbehavior of this polymer family. It is highlighted that hydroxylatedmaterials feature significantly less swelling in aqueous media (e.g.,when exposed to an electrolyte) compared to more explored systemssuch as PEDOT:PSS and glycolated thienothiophene-based polymers, leadingto a higher mechanical robustness and stability. We continue and describethe use of copolymerization to chemically control and fine-tune thephotoelectrochemical and charge-transport properties of these relativelynew materials systems. Blending is also discussed as it offers furtheropportunities beside chemical design and copolymerization. For instance,faster ion uptake can be realized upon blending hydroxylated mixedconductors with a diblock copolymer made of a π-conjugated anda compatibilizing poly(ethylene oxide) moiety, with favorable effectson the OECT performance. This approach also benefits mixed conductionin apolar polymers such as the well-studied P3HT, even when used inaqueous electrolytes. This observation illustrates that blending canopen the materials space, with new avenues and applications for thiscategory of polymers. We conclude with an outlook on future directionsfor this new platform of macromolecular mixed conductors. Overall,an overview of recent advancements in hydroxylated π-conjugatedpolymer research is given, integrating findings from our work on poly(hydroxyalkylthiophene)s and corresponding thieno-thiophene polymers, includingon their design, properties, and processing, to reveal their potentialfor addressing key challenges in the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 7","pages":"650–660"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148624717","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":"Cellular Morphometry for Interrogating Nanomaterial–Cell Interactions","authors":"Ziqi Wang,&nbsp;Kenry","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00077","DOIUrl":"10.1021/accountsmr.6c00077","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;The interactionsbetween nanomaterials and cells are fundamentalto a plethora of theranostic and nanomedicine applications. For instance,to induce targeted therapeutic effects, theranostic nanomaterialsneed to be selectively endocytosed by the target cells and at thesame time avoid the nonspecific uptake by nontarget cells. The specificcellular uptake of nanomaterials is influenced predominantly by theextent of nanomaterial–cell interactions. These interactionsfurther dictate downstream biological processes, such as intracellulartrafficking, toxicological responses, and cellular clearance, ultimatelydetermining therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility. As such, activeefforts have been geared toward formulating strategies to selectivelymodulate and interrogate nanomaterial-cell interactions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whilemany biomarkers can be leveraged to elucidate nanomaterial–cellinteractions and the associated biological effects, one of the mostdirect ways to achieve this is by visualizing changes in the morphologyof the nanomaterial-treated cells through microscopy imaging. In fact,changes in cellular morphology are often monitored along with variationsin the expression of other biomarkers to determine the therapeuticperformance and safety profiles of various nanomaterials. A wide rangeof microscopy modalities, including bright-field, phase-contrast,scanning probe, and fluorescence techniques, have enabled direct visualizationof nanomaterial binding, uptake, and localization at both cellularand subcellular levels. Although substantial insights have been gainedfrom examining cellular morphology, many studies have been limitedto manual inspection and qualitative observation, rendering theseinterpretations highly subjective and potentially less reliable. Moreover,subtle yet biologically significant morphological variations may remainundetected by using conventional visual assessment alone.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Withthe increasing implementation of advanced computational techniques,particularly those based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machinelearning, to process and analyze microscopy images, it has becomeincreasingly possible to probe cellular morphology quantitatively(i.e., cellular morphometry) to achieve more objective, reproducible,and reliable analyses and interpretations. By extracting numericaldescriptors related to cell size, shape, texture, and intensity frommicroscopy images, cellular morphometry transforms qualitative visualdata into multidimensional data sets that can be systematically analyzedto uncover hidden phenotypic patterns and structure–activityrelationships. This advancement can potentially unveil previouslyunrecognized insights into nanomaterial–cell interactions andprovide a more sensitive readout of cellular responses than conventionalbiochemical assays.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Herein, in this Account, we describe ourcontributions to elucidatingnanomaterial–cell interactions and our recent efforts in developingcellular morphometric approaches to quantitatively int","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"7 7","pages":"777–788"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148651103","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}