Inclusion-induced boundary layers in lipid vesicles

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Soft Matter Physics

Background:

• Lipid vesicles are crucial biological structures whose equilibrium shapes can be altered by embedded rigid inclusions.
• Previous studies suggested that shape perturbations caused by inclusions in 3D vesicles are localized and decay rapidly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analytically investigate the shape perturbations and free-energy changes induced by rigid inclusions in lipid vesicles.
• To identify preferred binding sites for inclusions on vesicle surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Asymptotic analysis was employed to derive the analytical solution for the boundary layer around the inclusion.
• The dominant terms of the free-energy perturbation were calculated.

Main Results:

• Analytical solutions for the boundary layer shape induced by rigid inclusions were derived.
• The dominant free-energy perturbation was determined, enabling prediction of inclusion binding sites.
• Unlike previous numerical findings, analytical results suggest significant shape modifications extending beyond the immediate vicinity of the inclusion.

Conclusions:

• The study provides an analytical framework to understand how rigid inclusions deform lipid vesicles.
• The findings allow for the prediction of specific locations on the vesicle where inclusions are most likely to associate, impacting vesicle function and stability.