Morphological transitions of vesicles induced by alternating electric fields Article uri icon

abstract

  • When subjected to alternating electric fields in the frequency range 102-108 Hz, giant lipid vesicles attain oblate, prolate, and spherical shapes and undergo morphological transitions between these shapes as one varies the field frequency and/or the conductivities λ in and λex of the aqueous solution inside and outside the vesicles. Four different transitions are observed with characteristic frequencies that depend primarily on the conductivity ratio λin/λex. The theoretical models that have been described in the literature are not able to describe all of these morphological transitions. © 2008 by the Biophysical Society.

publication date

  • 2008-01-01