Verifying scalings for bending rigidity of bilayer membranes using mesoscale models

Thakkar, Foram M and Maiti, Prabal K and Kumaran, V and Ayappa, KG (2011) Verifying scalings for bending rigidity of bilayer membranes using mesoscale models. In: Soft Matter, 7 (8). pp. 3963-3966.

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Abstract

The bending rigidity kappa of bilayer membranes was studied with coarse grained soft repulsive potentials using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. Using a modified Andersen barostat to maintain the bilayers in a tensionless state, the bending rigidity was obtained from a Fourier analysis of the height fluctuations. From simulations carried out over a wide range of membrane thickness, the continuum scaling relation kappa proportional to d(2) was captured for both the L-alpha and L-beta phases. For membranes with 4 to 6 tail beads, the bending rigidity in the L-beta phase was found to be 10-15 times higher than that observed for the L-alpha phase. From the quadratic scalings obtained, a six fold increase in the area stretch modulus, k(A) was observed across the transition. The magnitude of increase in both kappa and k(A) from the L-alpha to the L-beta phase is consistent with current experimental observations in lipid bilayers and to our knowledge provides for the first time a direct evaluation of the mechanical properties in the L-beta phase.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Soft Matter
Publisher:	Royal Society of Chemistry
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Royal Society of Chemistry.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	26 Apr 2011 07:53
Last Modified:	26 Apr 2011 07:53
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/37143

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