Stretching and relaxation of vesicles

Hernan Zhou, Beatriz Burrola Gabilondo, Wolfgang Losert, and Willem van de Water
Phys. Rev. E 83, 011905 – Published 18 January 2011

Abstract

We study the shape relaxation of spherical giant unilamellar vesicles which have been deformed far from equilibrium into ellipsoids using optical tweezers. The relaxation back to a sphere is determined by elastic constants of the vesicles, and their excess area, parameters that are obtained for each stretched vesicle from shape fluctuations in thermal equilibrium, as well as low Reynolds number fluid flow. The relaxation time could be compared favorably to a simple formula which encompasses the joint effect of membrane rigidity and fluid flow. The time constant of the stretched vesicle is slower than that of its thermal fluctuations, which agrees with a recent theory; however, it is one order of magnitude faster than predicted.

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  • Received 22 October 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.83.011905

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Hernan Zhou1, Beatriz Burrola Gabilondo2, Wolfgang Losert2, and Willem van de Water1,*

  • 1Physics Department, Eindhoven University of Technology, Postbus 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
  • 2Department of Physics, Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

  • *W.v.d.Water@tue.nl

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Vol. 83, Iss. 1 — January 2011

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