Reversible Design of Dynamic Assemblies at Small Scales

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bottom-up fabrication enables assembly of diverse components like colloids, microrobots, cells, and organoids.
• These assemblies create intricate structures with emergent properties beyond individual components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in externally driven assembly of synthetic and biological components.
• To highlight the role of reversibility in fabricating multiscale systems.
• To discuss externally driven methods for controlling reversible assembly.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing externally driven fields (magnetic, acoustic, optical, electric) for controlled assembly.
• Employing reversibility to enable dynamic reprogramming of assembly configurations.
• Modulating external stimuli properties (frequency, amplitude) for actuation.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated externally driven methods for reversible assembly of synthetic and biological subunits.
• Showcased dynamic actuation of assembly configurations through stimulus modulation.
• Described design principles for creating reconfigurable structures.

Conclusions:

• Externally driven assembly offers high control for fabricating advanced dynamic intelligent systems.
• Reversibility is key to creating multiscale systems not achievable with traditional methods.
• This approach provides robust design principles for future innovations.