(226d) Dynamics of Vesicles in Linear Flows

Phospholipid bilayer membranes are one of the key components of biological cells. In vitro produced vesicles made by such bilayers are observed to mimic variety of biological phenomena. Giant vesicles constitute the simplest cell models for studying dynamic and structural features of many cellular and physiological processes such as endo- and exo-cytosis, and cell traffic in the blood stream. I will present theoretical analyses of vesicle dynamics in linear flows. Analytical solutions for small-deformations and numerical simulations of the flow ?induced shape transformations, using the Boundary Integral Method, reveal complex interplay between membrane bending stresses, membrane composition, bilayer fluctuations and vesicle behavior in unbounded flow or near a substrate. Experimental observations of vesicle adhesion will be also presented.