Everybody makes mistakes. Biology is no different. However, living organisms have certain error-correction mechanisms that enable their biomolecules to assemble and function despite the defective slough that is a natural byproduct of the process.

A Cornell-led collaboration has developed microscale magnetic particles that can mimic the ability of biological materials such as proteins and nucleic acids to self-assemble into complex structures, while also selectively reducing the parasitic waste that would otherwise clog up production.

This magnetic assembly platform could one day usher in a new class of self-building biomimetic devices and microscale machines.