Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T20:39:31.556Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Physics of Complex-Biological Membranes and Cell Interfaces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

Evan Evans
Evan Evans*
Affiliation:
Pathology and Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Get access

Abstract

Nature has developed exceptional designs for resilient “soft” materials and for interfacing “soft-hard” materials which show capabilities well-beyond our present day technology. Most of the properties of biological materials – and a great deal of biological function – emanate from chemical and physical characteristics of interfacial structures (membranes). Although material interfaces in biology are complicated, it appears that these structures have been invariably optimized (with respect to harsh-environmental requirements) by the slow “evolutionary-driven” engineering. Some “hierarchical” features and characteristic length scales for biological membranes are directly related to architecture; but others are more subtle and arise because conformations of much of the molecular structure are randomized by thermal fluctuations.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 255: Symposium Z – Hierarchically Structured Materials , 1991 , 31
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Bloom, M., Evans, E., and Mouritsen, O., Quart. Rev. Biophys. (in press, 1991).Google Scholar
2. Svetina, S. and Zeks, B., Eur. Biophys. J. 17, 101 (1989). U. Seifert, K. Berndl, and R. Lipowsky, Phys. Rev. A 44, 1182 (1991). L. Miao, B. Fourcade, M. Rao, M. Wortis, and R.K. P. Zia, Phys. Rev. A 43, 6843, (1991). U. Seifert, L. Miao, H.-G. Doebereiner, and M. Wortis (to be published).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Helfrich, W. and Servuss, R.-M., Nuovo Cimento D3, 137 (1984).Google Scholar
4. Evans, E. and Rawicz, W., Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 2094 (1990). E. Evans, Langmuir 2, 1900 (1991).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Evans, E. and Skalak, R., Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Biomembranes, CRC Press, Florida (1980).Google Scholar
6. Lipowsky, R. and Giradet, M., Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 2893 (1990).Google Scholar
7. Evans, E. and Dembo, M., in Biomechanics of Active Movement and Deformation of Cells, Akkas, N., ed., NATO ASI Series, H42, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 185 (1990).Google Scholar
8. Bell, G.I., Science 200, 618 (1978).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Israelachvili, J.N., Intermolecular and Surface Forces, Academic Press, London (1985).Google Scholar
10. Evans, E., Berk, D., and Leung, A., Biophys. J. 59, 838 (1991). E. Evans, D. Berk, A. Leung, and M. Narla, Biophys. J 59, 849 (1991).Google Scholar