Adhesion-induced lateral phase separation of multi-component membranes: the effect of repellers and confinement

TL;DR

This theoretical study explores how confinement and repellers influence adhesion-induced lateral phase separation in multi-component membranes, revealing that confinement and the nature of repellers significantly affect phase behavior.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how confinement and different types of repellers modulate phase separation in membranes, a topic not extensively covered before.

Findings

Critical potential depth increases with decreasing wall distance.

Stiff repellers enhance phase separation.

Soft repellers suppress phase separation.

Abstract

We present a theoretical study for adhesion-induced lateral phase separation for a membrane with short stickers, long stickers and repellers confined between two hard walls. The effects of confinement and repellers on lateral phase separation are investigated. We find that the critical potential depth of the stickers for lateral phase separation increases as the distance between the hard walls decreases. This suggests confinement-induced or force-induced mixing of stickers. We also find that stiff repellers tend to enhance, while soft repellers tend to suppress adhesion-induced lateral phase separation.