Communications in Mathematical Sciences

Volume 10 (2012)

Number 4

A dynamic model of open vesicles in fluids

Pages: 1273 – 1285

(Fast Communication)

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4310/CMS.2012.v10.n4.a12

Authors

Fredric S. Cohen (Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois)

Robert Eisenberg (Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois)

Rolf J. Ryham (Department of Mathematics, Fordham University, Bronx, New York)

Abstract

A hydrodynamic model of open vesicles in solution is presented to study the enlarge- ment and shrinkage of a pore in a biological lipid membrane. The vesicle is modeled by diffusive interfaces. Transport equations permitting consistent treatment of the pore and pore rim are intro- duced. Dynamic simulations implemented by the finite difference method show the evolution of a pore in stretched vesicles. Simulation results include direct visualization of the membrane shape, water motion, and dissipation of energy. Comparison is made with data obtained from microscopy experiments.

Keywords

phase field, diffusive interface, biological membranes, pore dynamics, finite differ- ence methods

2010 Mathematics Subject Classification

74F10, 74K15, 92C05

Full Text (PDF format)

Published 23 July 2012