We study the equilibrium of an open fluid membrane free to adhere to a rigid wall. We obtain a covariant equation that determines the equilibrium shape of the free membrane when a general free-energy functional is employed to describe its elasticity. This equation is then compared with that already available in the literature for lipid membranes. The characteristic feature of an open membrane is that it exhibits a border, which could also be adhesive. It is the main objective of this paper to arrive at the equilibrium conditions to be imposed on an adhesive border. In particular, these conditions are applied to a simple problem, which models the adhesion of a membrane to an axisymmetric profile. For this example we are also able to study the stability of the adhesive border.
Adhesive borders of lipid membranes
ROSSO, RICCARDO;VIRGA, EPIFANIO GUIDO GIOVANNI
1999-01-01
Abstract
We study the equilibrium of an open fluid membrane free to adhere to a rigid wall. We obtain a covariant equation that determines the equilibrium shape of the free membrane when a general free-energy functional is employed to describe its elasticity. This equation is then compared with that already available in the literature for lipid membranes. The characteristic feature of an open membrane is that it exhibits a border, which could also be adhesive. It is the main objective of this paper to arrive at the equilibrium conditions to be imposed on an adhesive border. In particular, these conditions are applied to a simple problem, which models the adhesion of a membrane to an axisymmetric profile. For this example we are also able to study the stability of the adhesive border.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
