Self centering

Note: Self assembly goes beyond the concept of self centering.
But it can and (less or more) will involve an attractive funneling effect for
the last stretch when the correct position is already found and the
molecule just needs to fully move into place.

For weak collaborative binding as e.g. often used in 3D SDN.
The last stretch attractive funneling effect is weaker than thermal motions.
So multiple funneling effects need to work together to make for a more permanent catch.
( See nucleation barrier: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CNT_barrier.png )
Still calling the whole process "self-centering"
would overstretch the concept. But it is still related.

Related

• Multi V-groove self-centering as one of the Scale agnostic design principles
• ReChain Self centering

---

• Tether assisted assembly / Mechanosynelf assembly
• Self assembly