Sticking and sliding of lipid bilayers on deformable substrates

Author (s): Stubbington, L.; Arroyo, M.; Staykova, M.
Journal: Soft Matter

Date: 2016

Abstract:
We examine here the properties of lipid bilayers coupled to deformable substrates. We show that by changing the extent of the substrate hydrophilicity, we can control the membrane-substrate coupling and the response of the bilayer to strain deformation. Our results demonstrate that lipid bilayers coupled to flexible substrates can easily accommodate large strains, form stable protrusions and open reversibly pores. These properties, which differ significantly from those of free standing membranes, can significantly extend the applications of the current lipid technologies. Moreover, such systems better capture the mechanical architecture of the cell interface and can provide insights on the capacity of cells to reshape and respond to mechanical perturbations.

  
  

Bibtex:

@Article{C6SM00786D,
author ="Stubbington, L. and Arroyo, M. and Staykova, M.",
title  ="Sticking and sliding of lipid bilayers on deformable substrates",
journal  ="Soft Matter",
year  ="2017",
pages  ="-",
publisher  ="The Royal Society of Chemistry",
doi  ="10.1039/C6SM00786D",
url  ="http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C6SM00786D",
abstract  ="We examine here the properties of lipid bilayers coupled to deformable substrates. We show that by changing the extent of the substrate hydrophilicity{,} we can control the membrane-substrate coupling and the response of the bilayer to strain deformation. Our results demonstrate that lipid bilayers coupled to flexible substrates can easily accommodate large strains{,} form stable protrusions and open reversibly pores. These properties{,} which differ significantly from those of free standing membranes{,} can extend the applications of the current lipid technologies. Moreover{,} such systems better capture the mechanical architecture of the cell interface and can provide insights into the capacity of cells to reshape and respond to mechanical perturbations."}