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Stability of biomimetic membranes in DC electric fields

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2012

Jacopo Seiwert ,
Michael J. Miksis  and
Petia M. Vlahovska
Jacopo Seiwert
Affiliation:
School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Michael J. Miksis
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60202, USA
Petia M. Vlahovska*
Affiliation:
School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: petia_vlahovska@brown.edu
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Abstract

The interface defining a biological cell is a thin membrane, which acts as a leaky capacitor. We investigate the influence of capacitance and conductivity on the stability of a planar membrane subjected to a DC electric field. We develop a zero-thickness model of the membrane, in which the bilayer finite thickness is effectively accounted for by membrane electro-mechanical properties such as bending modulus, capacitance and conductance. The linear stability analysis shows that membrane conductance and asymmetry in the embedding electrolyte solutions destabilize the interface. However, the capacitive charging acts to stabilize the system under conditions where an ordinary fluid–fluid interface is unstable.

JFM classification

Drops and Bubbles: Electrohydrodynamic effects Biological Fluid Dynamics: Membranes
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 706 , 10 September 2012 , pp. 58 - 70
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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