Self-assembly in nature

D. Philp, J. F. Stoddart, Self-Assembly in Natural and Unnatural Systems , Chern. Rev., 1996, 35,1154-1196. 

Philp D, Stoddart JF. Self-assembly in natural and unnatural systems. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 1996 35 1155-1196. 

Philip, D. Stoddart. J.F. Self-assembly in natural and unnatural systems. Angew. Chern. 1996, 108. 1242-1286. Philip. D. Stoddart. J.F. Self-assembly in natural and unnatural systems. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1996. 35. 1154-1196. 

Mendes, A., Baran, E., Reis, R., Azevedo, H., 2013. Self-assembly in nature using the principles of nature to create complex nanobiomaterials. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Nanomed. NanobiotechnoL, 1—31. 

The self-assembly of discrete species is commonly seen in nature, although the discrete molecular species in question are often of fens of nanometres in size. The ubiquity of self-assembly in nature has seen the method become common-place in laboratories. It is possible to generate quite complex geometries by simply letting the components assemble by themselves. Threaded rings, knots, grids and capsules are just a few of the examples that have been studied to date and a rich diversity of intriguing systems has been established. 

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