Self-healing at the nanoscale

The design of self-heating materials is a very important but challenging topic in nanotechnology. Self- strategies, also inspired by natural processes, allow the fabrication of auto-repairing systems, and in recent years, materials engineering at the nanoscale has allowed further advances in this emerging field. In this mini review, we recall some interesting self-healing systems found in natural processes and others created by man-made activity with special craphasis on the role played in this field by nanostructures. Finally, the self-healing of-old nanoparticles during laser irradiation is considered in more detail since it is a rare example of a Functional nanomaterial with self-repairing properties.