Molecular burdocks: Peptides guide self-assembly on the micrometer scale

Molecular self-assembly is a well-known concept in supramolecular chemistry. Disordered molecules spontaneously organize themselves into larger structures through supramolecular interactions between the individual entities. It also works with nanoparticles, and researchers take advantage of certain functional groups attached to the particles to guide the particles' organization in a certain direction, e.g. as a basis for the design of new materials.