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Dynamic instabilities in biological membranes
Author(s) -
Campelo F.,
HernándezMachado A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pamm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1617-7061
DOI - 10.1002/pamm.200700341
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , membrane , homogeneous , curvature , vesicle , bending , instability , spheres , polymer , phase (matter) , mechanics , materials science , chemistry , chemical physics , physics , composite material , statistical physics , geometry , mathematics , geology , paleontology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , astronomy
A phase‐field model for dealing with the elastic bending energies is studied in the context of dynamic instabilities in membranes. We use it to study curvature‐driven pearling instability in vesicles induced by the anchorage of amphophilic polymers on the membrane. Within this model, we obtain the morphological changes reported in the experimental literature. The formation of a homogeneous pearled structure is achieved by consequent pearling of an initial cylindrical tube from the tip. For high enough concentration of anchors, we show theoretically that the homogeneous pearled shape is energetically less favorable than an inhomogeneous one, with a large sphere connected to an array of smaller spheres. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)