Nature, which has been fueled by evolutionary innovation over millions of years, offers an inexhaustible source of inspiration for advanced materials with its infinite complexity and exquisite organization. In recent years, biological solutions have been widely used based on the understanding of multi-functional biological systems. At the same time, the concept of “Learning from Nature” allows material design to flourish further from the diversity of human life and living habitats. This is the key to addressing the challenges of sustainable development between humans and nature, and it is also the inevitability of humanity’s continuous exploration and discovery of the mysteries of nature. In this work, we review recent innovative achievements in advanced material design inspired by living organisms, human life, and living habitats, and summarize representative approaches of nature-inspired simulation. Finally, the challenges and perspectives on functional materials based on natural inspirations are proposed and discussed in detail. We hope to spur continuous efforts and sustainable innovations on nature-inspired functional materials to enable a harmonious and efficient ecosystem.

Polymer fibres are foundational to modern material systems, offering adjustable mechanical properties, chemical functionality and formability across sectors such as textiles, packaging, biomedical and composites. Bioplastic fibres, derived from renewable or biodegradable polymers, present a promising route toward reducing dependence on petrochemical resources while supporting circular material flows. However, translating bioplastic fibres into competitive alternatives requires overcoming their intrinsic limitations in processability, cost and end-of-life management, to fully reap their benefits. This review evaluates the materials, processing techniques and structure–property relationships underpinning bioplastic fibre performance. Emphasis is placed on molecular orientation, crystallinity and surface functionality as determinants of mechanical, thermal and biodegradation behaviour of bioplastic fibres. Fibre-specific challenges such as brittleness, moisture sensitivity, narrow thermal processing windows and blend incompatibility are discussed in the context of polymer physics, chemical modification and advanced manufacturing. Opportunities arising from copolymerisation, nanocomposite integration, functionalisation and closed-loop recycling are explored with cross-sectoral examples. This review provides a scientifically rigorous, application-focused framework to guide the sustainable development and industrial adoption of bioplastic fibre technologies.

Melt-electrowriting (MEW) is a high-resolution additive manufacturing technique that has demonstrated significant progress in recent years. Owing to its precise control over fiber deposition, MEW is especially suitable for fabricating fine structures that mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby presenting considerable promise for applications in tissue engineering and regeneration. This review systematically examines the fundamental design principles and recent progress in MEW-based strategies for different tissue engineering and regeneration fields. Initially, the components of the MEW system, the underlying printing mechanisms, and the role of key process parameters are introduced, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for the rational design of scaffolds that replicate both the structural and functional characteristics of native ECM. Subsequently, the selection and performance of commonly employed biomaterials are discussed, with an emphasis on the versatility for diverse tissue engineering applications. The integration of MEW with bioactive materials is further highlighted as an effective approach to enhance the biological functionality of printed constructs and extend their therapeutic potential. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives are outlined, aiming to guide ongoing research and facilitate the clinical translation of MEW-based biofabrication technologies.

Fiber-based supercapacitors have gained considerable attention owing to their superior flexibility/deformability, high power density, and long lifespan, making them ideal for future electronic textiles and wearables. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of MXene-based fiber supercapacitors (MFSCs) with respect to energy storage mechanisms, manufacturing methods, structural design, performance optimization, and multifunctional applications. First, based on a theoretical analysis of the stability, rheological properties, and liquid crystallinity of MXene dispersions, multiple fiber fabrication strategies are proposed to achieve precise fibrous structural manipulations. Second, variously advanced fibrous nano/microstructures and their structure–activity relationships between structures and electrochemical performance are clarified to facilitate electron conduction, ion kinetic transport, and electrochemical energy storage. Third, multifunctional fabrics with high strength/flexibility and energy density that can be integrated into smart textiles, which indicate their potential applications in wearable electronic devices, are emphasized. Finally, this review provides insights into the current challenges and future perspectives for new-generation MFSCs.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common and often require surgical reconstruction. Autografts remain the clinical standard for ACL reconstruction (ACLR) but are limited by donor site morbidity, inconsistent outcomes, and supply constraints. Here, we report the development of electrospun ligament (ES-Lig), a fully degradable, electrospun scaffold composed of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) designed to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the native ACL. A scalable manufacturing process was established, incorporating electrospinning, filament stretching, alignment, and braiding. ES-Lig demonstrated controlled in vitro degradation over 12 months while retaining sufficient mechanical strength for early-stage healing. Mechanical characterisation revealed tensile properties and fixation stability comparable to autografts. In vitro biocompatibility was confirmed through cytotoxicity assays, patient-derived ACL explants, and direct cell growth onto the material. In an ovine ACLR model, ES-Lig enabled functional recovery, tissue infiltration throughout its length, and joint stability within 10 weeks post-implantation. Histological and imaging analyses confirmed graft-bone integration, vascularisation, and early ligamentisation. These findings establish ES-Lig as a promising, clinically translatable scaffold for next-generation ACL repair.

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has emerged as a promising renewable energy technology for harvesting kinetic energy from natural sources, such as human motion and rainfall. In this study, we fabricate a mechanically robust, porous, and superhydrophobic PTFE-SiO₂ nanofiber (NF)-based TENG using a facile electrohydrodynamic spinning technique, i.e., electrospinning method. The incorporation of SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) into the PTFE NF matrix significantly enhances the output performance, energy-harvesting efficiency, and superhydrophobic characteristics of the PTFE-SiO₂ NF-based TENG. The optimized PTFE-SiO₂ NF-based TENG achieves a maximum energy-harvesting efficiency of 102 mW·N⁻¹·m⁻², outperforming previously reported NF-based TENGs. Moreover, it successfully harvests kinetic energy from multiple natural stimuli, generating 429 μW from human interaction and 1.65 μW from water droplets. These results demonstrate the potential of PTFE-SiO₂ NF-based TENG for integration into self-powered wearable electronics and environmental energy-harvesting systems for their autonomous operation without reliance on external power sources.

Fibrous triboelectric devices with self-powered sensing capability receive tremendous attention in wearable applications, yet are still facing dual challenges of instable electrode conductivity and limited triboelectric charge density in practical application scenarios. Here, a multifunctional triboelectric fiber with ultra-high strain insensitivity and great sensitivity is proposed through a liquid metal (LM)–silver nanowires (Ag NWs) synergic network strategy. On the one hand, the three-dimensional conductive network formed by Ag NWs bridging LM microdroplets effectively addresses the issue of resistance fluctuations in traditional fibrous electrodes under large deformations, exhibiting exceptionally high conductivity of up to 1.07 × 10⁵S/m when stretched to 740%. Notably, Ag NWs-induced stress concentration, coupled with driven capillary action, can easily induce the rupture of the oxide layer on the LM surface under low stress and simplify the activation process inherent to classic LM-based electrodes. On the other hand, by utilizing the charge-trapping effect and dielectric optimization design induced by LM and Ag NWs doping, the triboelectric output is significantly enhanced with high sensitivity and linearity. Benefiting from its excellent stretchability, conductivity, and triboelectric output performance, the triboelectric fiber can then be applied for strain-insensitive multifunctional applications, including building a smart glove for virtual interaction, kinetic energy harvesting, Joule heating, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, opening up a new path for next-generation smart textiles.

Intelligent fiberbots integrate selective proprioception and autonomous motility, revealing great application prospects in medical examination and environmental monitoring. However, most fiberbots are limited by the hysteretic sensation–actuation capabilities and often fail in harsh environments (e.g., acid or alkali solutions). To address these issues, this study successfully developed a novel triple-coaxial fibrous composite-derived soft fiberbot. It was fabricated via an artful three-layer (core–middle–sheath) wet-spinning strategy, with each layer serving a specific function. The sheath layer has the properties of acid/alkali-resistant and self-illuminating, the middle layer enables programmable magnetic actuation, and the core layer provides high-selective sensing of mechanics and temperature. In addition, benefiting from its high ductility and seamless interface, the assembled fiberbot exhibits excellent mechanical properties and can maintain continuous visual motion for up to 10h under complex conditions. To further demonstrate the potential of this triple-coaxial fiberbot, several motion patterns are designed by the tactics of three-dimensional printing mold-assisted molding and magnetization. The magnetized fiberbot can not only perform helical propulsion and inchworm-inspired crawling, but also self-sense its own locomotion. Moreover, it can recognize the target states (such as the hardness and temperature) in the acidic stomach and alkaline overheated seawater, achieving a high-fine recognition accuracy of 98.3%. In summary, this work provides a feasible assembly strategy for constructing intelligent fiberbots. These fiberbots combine all-in-one functionalities of programmable actuation, selective sensation, and acid/alkali resistance. This breakthrough opens up broad prospects for future applications in medical examination and harsh environmental monitoring.

Excessive interface friction and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) disrupt collagen ordered deposition, promoting scar formation in tendinopathies. Inspired by tendon sheath anatomy, we developed a bionic bilayer nano-membrane via electrospinning and photocrosslinking to initiate the directional and orderly regeneration process of tendon tissue. The lubricating layer (PP), containing phosphatidylserine (PS), reduces frictional stress, while the regenerative layer (GM/GV), composed of gelatin methacrylate (GM) and vanillin-modified gelatin (GV), scavenges ROS and mitigates AGEs-induced collagen disorder deposition. This parallel bilayer structure guides tendon cell alignment and promotes ordered collagen deposition. Additionally, vanillin suppresses the AGEs/TGF-β/Smad pathway, reducing scar formation and tissue adhesion. In vitro/in vivo tests showed a fivefold decrease in coefficient of friction (COF) and a tenfold increase in Achilles tendon function index (AFI) compared to the PCL and normal groups, respectively. The PP@GM/GV membrane, regulated by mechano-biochemical coupling factors, offers a promising strategy for tendinopathy repair, and holds significant potential for clinical translation in guiding functional tendon regeneration and improving patient outcomes.

Maintaining the match between input solar energy and required energy through evaporator density management is crucial for efficient solar steam generation compared to conventional static rigid evaporators. Herein, we developed a 3D spiral cone evaporator with dynamic stretchability and investigated the matching relationship between light intensity and evaporator density by employing coupled numerical and experimental approach. This evaporator not only has high mechanical strength, but also has excellent stretching and rebound properties. This design takes full advantage of the dynamic adjustability of 3D spiral cone arrays controlled by the tensile module when encountering different solar illumination, which successfully improves the solar energy utilization. In addition, the fabric cone and spiral surface structure have excellent thermal management capabilities, achieving localized salt crystallization at the apex and excellent antibacterial performance, effectively extending the service life of the evaporator. Consequently, solar energy utilization and vapor diffusion synergies are greatly promoted synergistically, with evaporation rate of 2.55 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and solar efficiency of 94.3%, which is 34.9% higher than static evaporation. This dynamically stretchable evaporator provides a new strategy for evaporation systems, which helps to establish energy matching.

Fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerators (f-TENGs) hold great promise for healthcare applications, addressing increasing demand for wearables and self-powered devices in our aging society. To date, many co-axial multilayer fibers have been developed for the fabrication of stand-alone single-thread f-TENGs, whose developments are often constrained by low-throughput fabrication processes that require advanced techniques and additional assembly steps. Herein, we describe a novel Janus bamboo-like f-TENG for human motion sensing. With the microfluidic wet spinning (MWS) technique, polytetrafluoroethylene (PVDF) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were precisely distributed in two halves of Janus fibers, with PVDF as tribo-negative and TPU as tribo-positive materials separated by bamboo-like cavities. We demonstrated that such f-TENGs can be facilely integrated into wearable sensors for monitoring human body movements at different frequencies and motion amplitudes. The continuous and controlled fabrication of such f-TENGs enabled by MWS offers new opportunities for the future development of self-powered and miniaturized wearable devices.

Effective management of wound exudate is critical for mitigating inflammation and promoting moist wound healing. However, achieving efficient, dynamic, and controllable exudate regulation remains a significant challenge. To address this, we developed a smart trilayer electronic dressing (E-dressing) composed of a silver nanowire (Ag NW) heater, a thermoresponsive cotton fabric (CTP) interlayer, and hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) nanofibers. Upon electrical stimulation, Ag NW-induced heating triggers rapid hydrophilicity switching in the CTP layer. This process dynamically generates a Janus interface that enables spontaneous unidirectional fluid transport from the PU layer to the Ag NW layer, with the volume of removed exudate being precisely modulated by the stimulation duration. Simultaneously, the Ag NWs component allows for real-time thermal monitoring of wound status. The E-dressing exhibited potent antibacterial activity, inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by (98.7 ± 0.5)% and Escherichia coli (E. coli) by (99.9 ± 0.1)%, thereby significantly reducing infection risk. In diabetic mouse models, wound treated with the E-dressing combined with electrical stimulation achieved nearly complete closure. Compared to controls, the treatment also induced a 31-fold increase in neovascularization density during the early stage and enhanced collagen deposition by 157.7% by day 12. This intelligent system offers a novel strategy for maintaining moisture balance and promoting chronic wound repair. With its dual functionality of remote thermal regulation and real-time monitoring, the E-dressing represents a promising platform for advanced smart wound therapeutics.

This E-dressing enables dynamic exudate management through reversible wettability modulation. Upon electrical activation,Joule heating induces a hydrophilic transition in the thermoresponsive cotton layer,generating an on-demand Janus interface with the hydrophobic PU substrate to drive autonomous fluid transport away from the wound bed. De-energizing the system restores cotton hydrophobicity, establishing a fluid-retentive barrier. The platform concurrently delivers inherent antibacterial functionality and enables real-time thermal monitoring capabilities.

Immediate and efficient access to safe drinking water is essential for outdoor activities, emergency rescue operations, and other critical scenarios. Herein, a lightweight portable water collector based on interfacial solar evaporation is developed to address the limitations of water acquisition in such scenarios. Central to this collector is a mass-produced melt-spun fiber membrane, fabricated by an independently developed melt centrifugal spinning technology. This mass-produced melt-spun fiber membrane integrates bioinspired micro-funnel structures, asymmetric wettability, and photothermal catalytic functionality, achieving a high evaporation rate of 2.14 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ for efficient water purification. With a rational structural design, the evaporated vapor condenses on the transparent cover of the collector, flows into the annular outer tank, and is continuously directed into a storage bag. The portable collector demonstrates strong adaptability in harsh environments, including acidic/alkaline wastewater, seawater, lake water, domestic sewage, and organic sewage. The collected condensate showed minimal impurities, with chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, total organic carbon, and turbidity levels reduced by over 95%. Interestingly, field tests in a lake demonstrated that the portable collector could stably provide approximately 2.13 kg m⁻² day⁻¹ of clean water, enabling practical access to fresh water for outdoor emergencies. This potable collector offers a promising strategy for addressing the global freshwater crisis.

Equipping advanced intelligent machines with human-like nervous systems requires new sensing materials capable of conformal integration into complex multidimensional structures. Here, we introduce an ionic liquid-enhanced polyacrylonitrile/AgNO₃ formulation (IL-PANSion)—designed to be fabricated in diverse forms, including air-spun fibers, multi-material 2D printed layers, and 3D injection-molded networks. By leveraging room-temperature air spinning, IL-PANSion fibers achieve high tensile strain (up to 300 times that of conventional polyacrylonitrile fibers) and maintain over 650% stretchability for extended periods in open air. The material’s robust supramolecular network exhibits self-healing behavior, rapidly restoring mechanical integrity and conductivity after damage. In addition to mechanical strain sensing (gauge factor of 4.41), IL-PANSion detects temperature changes (S_T of 1.75 °C⁻¹), near-infrared radiation, and organic solvents, all within a single platform. By integrating IL-PANSion-based sensors into soft robotic systems, we demonstrate autonomous path-planning capabilities and the accurate identification of organic gases. Furthermore, the material can conformally fill or coat 3D structures to form hollow tubular sensors, enabling real-time monitoring of internal fluid flow and pressure—an important step toward biomimetic “organ-level” sensing. These findings showcase IL-PANSion’s versatile processing, combined with multimodal, self-healing sensing properties, making it a promising candidate for next-generation wearable health monitors, soft robotic skins, and smart infrastructures requiring integrated volumetric sensing.

Dual-spectra defense is of great significance in the field of defense security. However, due to the inherent lightness and flexibility of these materials, achieving high-performance dual-spectra compatibility remains challenging. In this work, we fabricated a novel fiber composite material featuring a Fabry-Pérot-like cavity structure, produced through electrospinning combined with in situ growth on microhilled cellulose paper. The resulting fiber composite exhibited remarkable electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE, 64.6 dB) and absolute shielding effectiveness (SSE/t, 5471.5 dB cm² g⁻¹). Stacking two sheets of the fiber composite achieved an outstanding shielding performance of 92.0 dB, mainly due to wave cancellation and reflection effects inside the Fabry-Pérot-like cavity structure. Furthermore, the low infrared emissivity and thermal conductivity of the fiber composite endowed it with excellent infrared stealth performance, significantly reducing the radiation temperature of the hot object surface. The radiation temperature of the fiber composite showed negligible changes over 60 min when placed on a hot object (90 °C). Meanwhile, the resulting fiber composite was capable of actively releasing infrared information via Joule heating to decoy adversarial trackers. This work provides a scalable electrospinning route toward dual-spectra stealth films and warrants scale-up engineering for realistic deployment.

Despite progress in anti-adhesion bio-based membranes, challenges such as poor mechanical strength, reliance on toxic solvents, and slow degradation still hinder clinical translation. Here, we present a green strategy to fabricate fully bio-friendly chitosan-based fibrous membranes (CFiMs) via solution blow spinning (SBS) using water-soluble catechol-modified chitosan (CS-C) and polyethylene oxide (PEO). By optimizing the water–ethanol ratio and precursor rheology, uniform membranes were obtained. To further reinforce their properties, catechol-functionalized hydroxyapatite (C-Hap) was incorporated, yielding organic–inorganic hybrid fibrous membranes (HFiMs). Owing to strong interfacial compatibility and synergistic interactions, HFiMs displayed tunable strength (3.21–17.45 MPa), rapid dry-to-hydrogel transition, controlled biodegradation, and excellent cytocompatibility. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed their ability to suppress fibroblast activation, reduce inflammation, and prevent fibroblast infiltration, primarily by inhibiting myofibroblast differentiation through Wnt5a pathway modulation. This work establishes a safe and sustainable SBS platform for bio-friendly HFiMs and highlights their promise in tendon anti-adhesion therapy.

Infected bone defects arising from trauma or tumour resection pose significant challenges in orthopaedic reconstruction. To address these challenges, silver nanorods (AgNRs) were encapsulated within Sr-doped mesoporous bioactive glass (BG@Sr) and incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA)/ gelatine fibres via a ‘one-pot’ electrospinning technique to prepare artificial periosteum (PAR-Sr), which enables photothermally triggered antibacterial Ag⁺ release and sustained osteogenic Sr²⁺ delivery. Sr doping-generated negatively charged Si–O⁻ and nonbridging oxygen (NBO) species effectively modulate Ag⁺ release kinetics to prevent burst effects. PAR-Sr periosteum replicates the mechanical profile of the native human periosteum, while retaining critical flexibility, lightweight properties, and physiological stretchability. In vitro studies confirmed that PAR-Sr achieved a photothermal conversion efficiency of 33.8% and demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against both planktonic and biofilm forms (> 99%) under near infrared (NIR) irradiation. Furthermore, PAR-Sr demonstrates exceptional biocompatibility and osteogenic potential, as evidenced by its ability to upregulate osteogenic-related gene expression, increase alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and promote extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization. In a rat cranial defect infection model, the PAR-Sr periosteum exhibited remarkable osseointegration capacity under NIR irradiation, while simultaneously reducing postoperative inflammatory responses. This periosteum represents a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing implant-associated infections and enhancing bone integration in orthopaedic applications.

Integration of radiative cooling and heating within a single textile is essential for effectively maintaining human thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption. However, most existing radiative thermal-management textiles depend either on complex micro/nanostructure fabrication techniques or on the simple stacking of cooling and heating layers, both of which substantially limit their scalability and long-term durability in practical applications. Here, we report a scalable dual-mode thermal management textile with biomimetic asymmetric solar confinement (ASCT), achieved through the design of asymmetric micro/nano-structures guided by controlled fiber-orientation alignment. ASCT demonstrates excellent solar modulation capability, with the high solar confinement (HSC) side exhibiting a solar absorptance of 97%, while the low solar confinement (LSC) side maintains a significantly lower absorptance of only 4.9%. Additionally, the mid-infrared (MIR) emissivity contrast between the two sides reaches up to 40%. Compared to conventional textiles, ASCT significantly enhances the thermal modulation range by up to 15 °C. More importantly, ASCT has mechanical robustness, breathability, softness, and durability tailored for wearable applications. This work offers a novel path to the structural design and scalable fabrication of textiles, which is expected to accelerate their advancement and practical deployment.

Overcoming the trilemma of strength, absorption, and cost in stealth composites, we report the dielectric-gradient silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites with graphene-skinned SiC fibers (Gr-SiC_f) enabling tunable electromagnetic architecture. By conformally depositing continuous graphene skins onto SiC_f via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition, we achieve precise control over conductivity through growth kinetics at minimal cost, while maintaining the high mechanical strength of the resulting Gr-SiC_f. Strategic integration of these Gr-SiC_f as high-, medium-, and low-volume-resistivity reinforcements creates spatially tailored dielectric gradients, optimized through finite-element modeling. The resulting dielectric-gradient structures exhibit exceptional impedance matching, alongside synergistic polarization loss, conductive loss, and multiple reflections. At a total thickness of 3.5 mm, the composite achieves an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, reflection loss ≤ −10 dB) of 4.30 GHz and a broad bandwidth (RL ≤ −5 dB) of 13.41 GHz across the 4–18 GHz range. This material paradigm establishes a scalable route to manufacturing complex-shaped structural absorbers, addressing a critical bottleneck for next-generation stealth platforms.