Wrapping of a spherical colloid by a fluid membrane Article Swipe

View

Related Concepts

Membrane Colloid Classical mechanics Deformation (meteorology) Tension (geology) Colloidal particle Particle (ecology) Physics Energy minimization Elastic energy Phase (matter) Surface tension Mechanics Materials science Chemical physics Chemistry Thermodynamics Quantum mechanics Geology Physical chemistry Biochemistry Meteorology Oceanography Moment (physics)

Markus Deserno , Thomas Bickel ·

YOU? · · 2018 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1184/r1/6509570.v1 · OA: W3104513148

We theoretically study the elastic deformation of a fluid membrane induced by an adhering spherical colloidal particle within the framework of a Helfrich energy. Based on a full optimization of the membrane shape we find a continuous binding and a discontinuous envelopment transition, the latter displaying a potentially substantial energy barrier. A small-gradient approximation permits membrane shape and complex energy to be calculated analytically. While this only leads to a good representation of the complex geometry for very small degrees of wrapping, it still gives the correct phase boundaries in the regime of low tension.