"What if we could make a material that is self-re-assembling?" (web.mit.edu)

Not exactly... That works because of extensive hydrogen bonding. These can break and reform easily, giving the appearance of self healing.

With the new technology, they intend to actually grow materials, much in the same way that animals such as abalone make their shells. A couple of years ago I realized that one day we will grow things rather than manufacture them. There can be dormant "cells" within it that will repair it as necessary. I'm not sure if that is the exact idea the inventor has in mind, but I think it's inevitable.