Vesicle Shapes and Shape Transformations: A Systematic Study

摘要: The lipid bilayer vesicle is the simplest possible model of biological membranes. Nevertheless, it exhibits already a number typical properties cell most fascinating examples are shape transitions and instabilities. It has been recognized long ago that may be induced by changing osmotic conditions or temperature1. Apart from spherical ellipsoidal shapes more exotic such as e. g. discocytes, stomatocytes1, echinocytes2 necklace small vesicles3 recently observed. Up to now, our understanding these transformations rather limited. Indeed, all previous experiments have performed with relatively complex systems containing, charged unsaturated lipids, mixtures different lipids additional solutes sugar in aqueous phase. was generally believed ingredients play an essential role determining shape. Therefore, no attempt reported so far relate experimentally observed systematic way theoretical calculations.