The invention discloses a system and method for magnetic self-assembly. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for self-assembly of magnetic building blocks, including distributing a plurality of building blocks in a liquid medium, each of the plurality of building blocks having a plurality of stable radicals, establishing a magnetic field interacting with at least a portion of the plurality of building blocks, guiding with the magnetic field the portion of the plurality of building blocks from a first location in the liquid medium to a second location in the liquid medium, assembling into a first construct the portion of the plurality of building blocks proximate the second location, and treating the first construct with at least one antioxidant to neutralize at least in part the plurality of stable radicals.