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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Thermodynamics of Membrane Protein Folding Measured by Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Published on: April 28, 2011
Capillarity-induced folds fuel extreme shape changes in thin wicked membranes
Paul Grandgeorge1, Natacha Krins2, Aurélie Hourlier-Fargette1,3
1Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Jean le Rond ∂'Alembert, F-75005 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Soft deformable materials are needed for applications such as stretchable electronics, smart textiles, or soft biomedical devices. However, the design of a durable, cost-effective, or biologically compatible version of such a material remains challenging. Living animal cells routinely cope with extreme deformations by unfolding preformed membrane reservoirs available in the form of microvilli or membrane folds. We synthetically mimicked this behavior by creating nanofibrous liquid-infused tissues that spontaneously form similar reservoirs through capillarity-induced folding. By understanding the physics of membrane buckling within the liquid film, we developed proof-of-concept conformable chemical surface treatments and stretchable basic electronic circuits.
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