Concentration fluctuations and phase transitions in coupled modulated bilayers

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2012 Aug;86(2 Pt 1):021916. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.86.021916. Epub 2012 Aug 16.

Abstract

We consider the formation of finite-size domains in lipid bilayers consisting of saturated and hybrid lipids. First, we describe a monolayer model that includes a coupling between a compositional scalar field and a two-dimensional vectorial order parameter. Such a coupling yields an effective two-dimensional microemulsion free energy for the lipid monolayer, and its characteristic length of compositional modulations can be considered as the origin of finite-size domains in biological membranes. Next, we consider a coupled bilayer composed of two modulated monolayers and discuss the static and dynamic properties of concentration fluctuations above the transition temperature. We also investigate the micro-phase separation below the transition temperature and compare the micro-phase separated structures with statics and dynamics of concentration fluctuations above the transition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Emulsions
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Transition Temperature

Substances

  • Emulsions
  • Lipid Bilayers