1. Marangoni transport in lipid nanotubes
- Author
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J. F. Joanny, F. Brochard-Wyart, Paul Dommersnes, Owe Orwar, Physico-Chimie-Curie (PCC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut Curie [Paris]-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC), and Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut Curie [Paris]-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Subjects
[PHYS]Physics [physics] ,Physics::Biological Physics ,0303 health sciences ,Materials science ,Marangoni effect ,Vesicle ,General Physics and Astronomy ,02 engineering and technology ,Mechanics ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Hagen–Poiseuille equation ,Curvature ,Physics::Fluid Dynamics ,Condensed Matter::Soft Condensed Matter ,Quantitative Biology::Subcellular Processes ,Surface tension ,03 medical and health sciences ,Membrane ,Classical mechanics ,Laplace pressure ,0210 nano-technology ,Stationary state ,030304 developmental biology - Abstract
We give a simple picture of transient and stationary transport in lipid nanotubes connecting two vesicles, when a difference of membrane tension is imposed at time t = 0, either by pressing one vesicle with a micro-fiber, or by adding a surplus of membrane lipid. The net result is a transport of membrane from the tense towards the floppy vesicle. In the early stage, the tube remains cylindrical, and the gradient of surface tension gives rise to two opposite flows of the internal liquid: a Marangoni flow towards the direction of high tension, and a Poiseuille flow (induced by Laplace pressures) in the opposite direction. At longer time, the tube reaches a stationary state, where curvature and Laplace pressure are balanced. Marangoni flows dominate for giant vesicles, where Laplace pressure is negligible.
- Published
- 2005