Flotation　constitutes　a　pivotal　separation　technique　in　mineral　processing,　with　its　efficiency　heavily　dependent　on　flotation　reagents,　particularly　collectors.　Conventional　collectors　face　inherent　limitations　in　refractory　ore　processing,　including　poor　selectivity,　low　recovery　efficiency,　and　significant　environmental　impacts.　Nano-collectors　demonstrate　unique　advantages　as　emerging　alternatives.　Defined　as　nanoparticles　with　particle　sizes　within　the　1–100　nm　range,　nano-collector　include　organic　synthetic　particles　(e.g.　polystyrene,　cellulose　and　it＇s　derivatives),　inorganic　synthetic　particles　(e.g.　SiO2,　TiO2,　Fe2O3),　and　naturally　occurring　mineral　particles　(e.g.　Talc).　By　utilizing　their　high　specific　surface　area　and　tunable　physicochemical　properties　(e.g.　surface　charge,　functional　groups),　nano-collectors　enhance　selective　adsorption　at　mineral　interfaces,　thereby　improving　recovery　rates　while　reducing　environmental　impacts　through　lower　dosage　requirements,　and　ultimately　enhancing　cost-effectiveness.　Current　research　lacks　comprehensive　systematic　analysis　of　the　relationship　between　nano-collector　surface　characteristics　and　flotation　performance.　This　review　provides　a　critical　review　of　recent　advancements　in　nano-collector　applications　for　mineral　flotation,　detailing　synthesis　protocols,　flotation　interaction　mechanisms,　and　application　efficacy　across　nanoparticle　categories.　Emphasis　is　placed　on　elucidating　the　correlations　between　particle　size,　surface　properties,　and　flotation　performance,　with　mechanistic　insights　into　how　surface　charge,　functional　groups,　and　hydrophobicity　govern　mineral-nanoparticle　interactions,　which　is　of　great　guiding　significance　for　promoting　the　innovation　and　optimization　of　mineral　flotation　processes.　©　2025