Issue 19, 2014

Vesicle deformation in DC electric pulses

Abstract

The transient deformation of giant vesicles in square DC electric pulses is investigated. We experimentally observe the theoretically predicted transition from an oblate to prolate ellipsoidal shape in the case of a quasi-spherical vesicle encapsulating solution less conducting than the suspending medium. The transition is detected by utilizing a two-step pulse in order to avoid electroporation and vesicle collapse. We develop a theoretical model to describe both the deformation under an electric field and relaxation after the field is turned off. Agreement between experiment and theory demonstrates that the time-dependent vesicle shape can be used to measure membrane properties such as viscosity and capacitance.

Graphical abstract: Vesicle deformation in DC electric pulses

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Nov 2013
Accepted
05 Feb 2014
First published
05 Feb 2014

Soft Matter, 2014,10, 3386-3393

Vesicle deformation in DC electric pulses

P. F. Salipante and P. M. Vlahovska, Soft Matter, 2014, 10, 3386 DOI: 10.1039/C3SM52870G

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