Soft Intelligent Systems 

Recent Advances in Variable-Stiffness Robotic Systems Enabled by Phase-Change Materials

https://doi.org/10.1002/adrr.202500031 

This review explores recent advancements in phase change materials (PCM)-enabled robotics, focusing on their underlying mechanisms, key applications in gripping, minimally invasive surgery, shape morphing, and locomotion, and the challenges that must be addressed to unlock their full potential. By summarising the latest developments, this review highlights the promising role of PCMs in the evolution of multifunctional, adaptable soft robotic systems. 

An off-chip platform for on-demand, single-target encapsulation for ultrasensitive biomarker detection

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2025.117134 

This work develops an off-chip platform powered by a fluorescent-activated mechanical droplet sorting and production (FAM-DSP) system. The system integrates target detection, sorting, encapsulation, and on-demand droplet generation into a single compact platform. The platform is applied for improving the performance of droplet digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ddELISA) by reducing the number of empty droplets and increasing the throughput. 

Stimuli-responsive smart materials enabled high-performance biosensors for liquid biopsies

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03541-5 

This review critically examines and compares recent progress in the development and application of physical, chemical, and biochemical stimuli-responsive smart materials in biosensing. Emphasis is placed on their responsiveness mechanisms, operational principles, and their role in advancing biosensor performance for biomarker detection in bodily fluids. Additionally, future perspectives and challenges in developing versatile, accurate, and user-friendly biosensors for point-of-care and clinical applications using these smart materials are discussed.

Humidity-Responsive Liquid Metal Core–Shell Materials for Enduring Heat Retention and Insulation

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202404705 

High humidity in extremely cold weather can undermine the insulation capability of the clothing, imposing serious life risks. Current clothing insulation technologies have inherent deficiencies in terms of insulation efficiency and humidity adaptability. Here, humidity-stimulated self-heating clothing using aluminum core–liquid metal shell microparticles (Al@LM-MPs) as the filler is reported. Al@LM-MPs exhibit a distinctive capability to react to water molecules in the air to generate heat, exhibiting remarkable sensitivity across a broad temperature range. This ability leads to the creation of intelligent clothing capable of autonomously responding to extreme cold and wet weather conditions, providing both enduring heat retention and insulation capabilities.