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Vesicle dynamics in time-dependent elongation flow: wrinkling instability.
Vasiliy Kantsler1, Enrico Segre, Victor Steinberg
1Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100 Israel.
Vesicle dynamics reveal a new instability causing membrane wrinkles after flow reversal. This phenomenon is linked to negative surface tension and stress adaptation in vesicles.
Area of Science:
- Soft matter physics
- Biophysics
- Fluid dynamics
Background:
- Vesicles are fundamental biological structures with complex dynamics.
- Understanding vesicle response to flow is crucial for cell mechanics and drug delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate vesicle relaxation dynamics under time-dependent elongation flow.
- To characterize novel instabilities and shape transitions in vesicles.
Main Methods:
- Experimental observation of vesicle behavior.
- Controlled application of time-dependent elongation flow.
- Analysis of vesicle shape changes and instability formation.
Main Results:
- A new instability leading to higher-order mode formation (wrinkles) was observed.
- Wrinkle generation is linked to negative surface tension during vesicle deflation.
- Bud formation near the dynamical transition point was detected.
Conclusions:
- Vesicle membranes exhibit complex adaptive behavior under alternating stress.
- Negative surface tension plays a key role in generating membrane wrinkles.
- The study reveals new insights into vesicle mechanics and instability.
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