Shape transitions of giant liposomes induced by an anisotropic spontaneous curvature

O. Sandre (1) , Christine Ménager (2) , J. Prost (2) , V. Cabuil (2) , J.-C. Bacri (1) , A. Cebers (3)

1 LMDH - Laboratoire des Milieux Désordonnés et Hétérogènes
2 LI2C - Liquides Ioniques et Interfaces Chargées
3 Institute of Physics

We explore how a magnetic field breaks the symmetry of an initially spherical giant liposome filled with a magnetic colloid. The condition of rotational symmetry along the field axis leads either to a prolate or to an oblate ellipsoid. We demonstrate that an electrostatic interaction between the nanoparticles and the membrane triggers the shape transition. PACS numbers: 75.

Domaines: Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]; Matériaux; Polymères

O. Sandre, Christine Ménager, J. Prost, V. Cabuil, J.-C. Bacri, et al.. Shape transitions of giant liposomes induced by an anisotropic spontaneous curvature. Physical Review E , 2000, 62 (3), pp.3865-3870. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevE.62.3865⟩. ⟨hal-02311217⟩