coassembled

Coassembled is an adjective describing a system in which two or more chemically distinct components assemble together to form a single, organized structure. The process, often referred to as coassembly, contrasts with single-component self-assembly by relying on interactions between different components to stabilize a composite architecture, such as mixed micelles, vesicles, fibers, or crystalline frameworks.

Driving forces include hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction or repulsion, hydrophobic effects, van der Waals forces, coordination bonds, and specific complementary interactions. The resulting material can exhibit properties that differ from the individual constituents, such as altered stability, porosity, or functionality. Coassembly can involve precise stoichiometry or tolerate broad compositional ranges, and it may proceed via sequential or simultaneous incorporation of components.

Applications include drug delivery systems where peptide and lipid components coassemble into nanovesicles; polymer-based materials (block copolymers) forming mixed micelles or hydrogels; and inorganic–organic hybrids where inorganic particles coassemble with organic ligands. In biology and biochemistry, coassembly occurs when multiple subunits assemble into a functional complex or when scaffolds guide assembly of biomolecules.

Characterization typically uses microscopy (TEM, cryo-EM, AFM), scattering (SAXS/WAXS), spectroscopy, and diffraction to determine composition, morphology, and internal structure. Challenges include controlling stoichiometry, avoiding phase separation, and achieving reproducible morphologies.