title: Self-assembly at all scales.
abstract: Self-assembly is the autonomous organization of components into patterns or structures without human intervention. Self-assembling processes are common throughout nature and technology. They involve components from the molecular (crystals) to the planetary (weather systems) scale and many different kinds of interactions. The concept of self-assembly is used increasingly in many disciplines, with a different flavor and emphasis in each.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. gwhitesides@gmwgroup.harvard.edu
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Whitesides
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grzybowski
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D004581:Electronics; D007256:Information Systems; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012371:Robotics
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D011108:Polymers