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ArticlesCopyright © 1991 by American Association for the Advancement of Science
Computer simulations of self-assembled membranes
Service de Physique Theorique de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Molecular dynamics simulations in three dimensions of particles that self-assemble to form two-dimensional, membrane-like objects are presented. Anisotropic, multibody forces, chosen so as to mimic real interactions between amphiphilic molecules, generate a finite rigidity and compressibility of the assembled membranes, as well as a finite line tension at their free edges. This model and its generalizations can be used to study a large class of phenomena taking place in fluctuating membranes. For instance, both fluid and solid-like phases, separated by a phase transition, are obtained and some of the large-scale properties of these membranes studied. In particular, thermal undulations of quasi-spherical fluid vesicles are analyzed, in a manner similar to recent experiments in lipid systems.
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)
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