We discuss recent research efforts towards understanding and implementing the physical rules needed to make materials—especially materials composed of nanoscale building blocks—that exhibit the defining characteristics of living systems: adaptive and evolving functional behavior. In particular, we highlight advancements in direct imaging and quantifying of kinetic pathways governing structural reconfiguration in model systems of colloidal nanoparticles as well as emerging opportunities brought by frontier efforts in synthesizing shape-shifting colloids and flexible electronics. Direct observation of kinetic “crossroads” in nanoparticle self-assembly and reconfiguration will offer insight into how these steps can be manipulated to design dynamic, potentially novel materials and devices. Moreover, these principles will not be limited to nanoparticles; when extended to building blocks like soft micelles and proteins, they have the potential to have a similar impact throughout the broader field of soft matter physics.

我们讨论了最近的研究工作，旨在理解和执行制造材料（尤其是由纳米级结构块组成的材料）所需的物理规则，这些材料表现出生命系统的定义特征：适应性和不断发展的功能行为。特别是，我们着重介绍了在胶体纳米颗粒模型系统中控制结构重构的动力学路径的直接成像和定量化方面的进展，以及在合成可变形胶体和柔性电子学方面的前沿努力所带来的新机遇。直接观察纳米粒子自组装和重新配置中的动力学“十字路口”，将提供有关如何操作这些步骤以设计动态的，潜在的新颖材料和设备的见识。而且，这些原理将不仅限于纳米颗粒。当扩展到诸如软胶束和蛋白质之类的构建基块时，它们在整个更广泛的软物质物理学领域中都有可能产生相似的影响。