This new approach to the nanofabrication of three-dimensional sub-micron structures utilizes charged nanoscale materials and self-assembled lipid tubules as an approach to ordered assembly. Nanoparticle structures were assembled onto lipid tubules through the sequential adsorption of oppositely charged polymers and 45-nm silica spheres. For tubules of the zwitterionic 1,2 di-(10,12-pentacosadiynoyl)-sn-3-phosphatidylcholine)-DC 8 , 1 1 PC, this process leads to the formation of caps on the ends of the tubules, with 50-100 silica spheres in each cap. For tubules of DC 8 , 1 1 PC mixed with 2% of the charged lipid, the sequential adsorption leads to both end caps and helices of nanoparticles winding around the interior surface of the walls of the microtubules. In another approach, the shell assembly of 75-nm diameter silica spheres and 35-nm latex onto 200-nm diameter spherical templates are presented. Utilizing modified and unmodified nanoparticles, results in flocculation and formation of a super-crystal, the larger particles in it are separated by a layer of smaller particles.