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With the miniaturization of electronic-based devices, the foreseen potential of new optical nanoprobes and the assessment of eventual size and shape effects, elaboration of multifunctional noncentrosymmetric nanocrystals with ferroelectric, pyroelectric, piezoelectric, and nonlinear optical properties are the subject of an increasing research interest. Here, the recent achievements from the solution-based methods (coprecipitation in homogeneous and nanostructured media, sol-gel processes including various chemistries and hydro/solvothermal techniques) to prepare 0-D perovskite and nonperovskite oxides in the 5-500 nm size range are critically reviewed. To cover a representative list of covalent- and ionic-type materials, BaTiO

International audience; Potassium niobate nonlinear nanoparticles are used for the fi rst time to monitor the evolution of embryonic stem cells (ESC) by second harmonic microscopy. These particles feature the complete absence of photo-bleaching and unlimited excitation wavelength fl exibility. The potential of this approach is made evident for tissueregeneration studies and applications, by capturing a high-speed movie of ESCderived cardiomyocytes autonomously beating within a cluster. Time-resolved data are analyzed to retrieve 3D information of the contraction pattern at the cellular level.