Overview of a Quest for Bending Elasticity Measurement

Philippe Méléard (1) , Tanja Pott (1)

1 ISCR - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes

We present a brief review of over 30 years of research that led step-by-step to a reproductive method to determine bending elasticity, based on the analysis of thermal shape fluctuations of giant unilamellar vesicles. We also acknowledge the strong contribution of Marin D. Mitov and of a long-lasting French-Bulgarian cooperation in this research. The chapter starts with an introduction of the main theoretical notions necessary to understand this experimental method. Then we review the link between this physical model and the experimental measurable quantities, that is, the amplitudes of the vesicle thermal shape fluctuations. Further, we discuss the technical progress necessary to gradually overcome some principal technical limitations. Finally, we summarize what is currently the most accurate technique for bending elasticity measurements and briefly review published bending elasticity values obtained using thermally induced shape fluctuations of quasi-spherical giant unilamellar vesicles.

Keywords: Bending elasticity; Thermal shape fluctuations; Giant unilamellar vesicles; GUV; Overview

Domains: Chemical Sciences; Material chemistry

Philippe Méléard, Tanja Pott. Overview of a Quest for Bending Elasticity Measurement. Advances in Planar Lipid Bilayers and Liposomes : A Tribute to Marin D. Mitov, Elsevier, pp.55-75, 2013, Advances in Planar Lipid Bilayers and Liposomes, ⟨10.1016/B978-0-12-411516-3.00003-6⟩. ⟨hal-00833156⟩