(552f) Electro-Hydrodynamic Effects On Lipid Membranes in Giant Vesicles

Vesicle electro-permeabilization, -deformation and -kinetics are well documented and have found numerous practical applications [1]. Recently, using multicomponent lipid vesicles with fluorescently labeled intramembranous domains, we showed that asymmetric AC fields trigger a pronounced flow of lipids on the surface of the vesicle [2]. The flow is organized in four symmetric vortices and is fastest in the kHz frequency region. At lower and higher frequencies, it reverses direction and weakens. In this talk, we will present an analytical model according to which the membrane flow in the intermediate frequency regime is driven by the Maxwell stresses arising from the interaction between the asymmetric AC field and the induced electric charges at the vesicle interfaces. We will discuss the mechanisms of flow reversal as well as the coupling of the membrane flow to the internal and external fluid media. Finally, we will discuss the applicability of this phenomenon for fluid mixing, trapping and displacement.

1. R. Dimova et al., Soft Matter, 3, 817 (2007)
2. M. Staykova et al., Soft matter 4, 2168 (2008)