Self-healing polymers with nanomaterials and nanostructures

•Incorporating nanomaterials in self-healing systems provides large interfacial surface area, and grants novel properties.•Rational design and controlled synthesis of nanostructures improves healing dynamics and maintains mechanical properties.•Self-healing polymers with nanomaterials have great potential applications in flexible electronics.•Nanomaterials is expected to expand the fabrication of self-healing polymers through additive manufacturing technology.