Law and Order of Colloidal Tectonics: From Molecules to Self-Assembled Colloids

Since biochemists and biologists have progressed in understanding the mechanisms involved in living organisms, biological systems have become a source of inspiration for chemists. In this context, the concept of colloidal tectonics, describing the spontaneous formation of colloidal particles or supracolloidal structures in which the building blocks are called “tectons”, has emerged. Therefore, a bottom-up edification of tectons towards (supra) colloidal structures is allowed. Each (supra) colloidal system has at least one of the following properties: amphiphilicity, predictability, versatility, commutability, and reversibility. However, for these systems to perform even more interesting functions, it is necessary for tectons to have very precise chemical and physical properties so that new properties emerge in (supra) colloidal systems. In this way, colloidal tectonics enables engineering at the nano- and micrometric level and contributes to the development of smart bioinspired systems with applications in catalysis, drug delivery, etc. In this review, an overview of the concept of colloidal tectonics is illustrated by some biotic systems. The design of abiotic (supra) colloidal systems and their applications in various fields are also addressed (notably Pickering emulsions for catalysis or drug delivery). Finally, theoretical directions for the design of novel self-assembled (supra) colloidal systems are discussed.