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arXiv · 2003.02063

Double-mode relaxation of highly deformed vesicles

Dinesh Kumar·Channing M. Richter·Charles M. Schroeder
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Abstract

Lipid vesicles are known to undergo complex conformational transitions, but it remains challenging to systematically characterize non-equilibrium membrane shape dynamics. Here, we report the direct observation of lipid vesicle relaxation from highly deformed shapes using a Stokes trap. Vesicle shape relaxation is described by two distinct characteristic time scales governed by the bending modulus and membrane tension. Interestingly, experimental results are consistent with a viscoelastic model of a deformed membrane. Overall, these results show that vesicle relaxation is governed by an interplay between membrane elastic moduli, surface tension, and vesicle deflation.

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Dinesh Kumar, Channing M. Richter, Charles M. Schroeder. 2020-02-27. Double-mode relaxation of highly deformed vesicles. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.102.010605

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