Long-lived anomalous thermal diffusion induced by elastic cell membranes on nearby particles

Abdallah Daddi-Moussa-Ider, Achim Guckenberger, and Stephan Gekle
Phys. Rev. E 93, 012612 – Published 26 January 2016
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Abstract

The physical approach of a small particle (virus, medical drug) to the cell membrane represents the crucial first step before active internalization and is governed by thermal diffusion. Using a fully analytical theory we show that the stretching and bending of the elastic membrane by the approaching particle induces a memory in the system, which leads to anomalous diffusion, even though the particle is immersed in a purely Newtonian liquid. For typical cell membranes the transient subdiffusive regime extends beyond 10 ms and can enhance residence times and possibly binding rates up to 50%. Our analytical predictions are validated by numerical simulations.

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  • Received 30 September 2015
  • Revised 18 November 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.012612

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
  1. Physical Systems
Polymers & Soft Matter

Authors & Affiliations

Abdallah Daddi-Moussa-Ider, Achim Guckenberger, and Stephan Gekle

  • Biofluid Simulation and Modeling, Fachbereich Physik, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 1 — January 2016

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