From fluid membranes to polymer membranes

• Published in: Thin solid films Vol. 509; no. 1; pp. 58 - 63
• Main Authors: Tu, Z.C., Ge, L.Q., Ou-Yang, Z.C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 19.06.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cell membranes. Ionic channels. Membrane pores; Cell structures and functions; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Elasticity; Elasticity, elastic constants; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid membrane; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Mechanical properties of solids; Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles; Molecular and cellular biology; Physics; Polymer membrane; Stability; Elasticity; 68.55.-a; Polymer membrane; Stability; 87.16.Dg; Fluid membrane; 68.55-a; Membranes; Theoretical study; Boundary conditions; Lipids; Free energy; Vesicles; Scaling laws; Polymers; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2005.09.073

This article reports some recent progress on elasticities of fluid membranes and polymer membranes. The shape equation of lipid vesicles, the shape equation and boundary conditions of open lipid bilayers and vesicles with lipid domains are presented. The free energy of a membrane consisting of polymers is derived by scaling analysis. The first-order variation of the free energy gives the shape equation and in-plane strain equations of polymer membranes, and the second-order variation arrives at mechanical stabilities of polymer membranes.