Shape transitions of high-genus fluid vesicles

TL;DR

This study explores how the shapes of high-genus fluid vesicles change with pore arrangements and volume, revealing continuous and discrete shape transitions influenced by membrane properties.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed simulation analysis of high-genus vesicle morphologies, highlighting the role of pore alignment and volume in shape transitions.

Findings

Pore alignment affects vesicle shape transitions.

High-volume vesicles undergo continuous transformations.

Low-volume vesicles exhibit discrete phase transitions.

Abstract

The morphologies of genus-2 to -8 fluid vesicles are studied by using dynamically triangulated membrane simulations with area-difference elasticity. It is revealed that the alignments of the membrane pores alter the vesicle shapes and the types of shape transitions for the genus $g \ge 3$. At a high reduced volume, a stomatocyte with a circular alignment of $g+1$ pores continuously transforms into a discocyte with a line of $g$ pores with increasing intrinsic area difference. In contrast, at a low volume, a stomatocyte transforms into a ($g+1$)-hedral shape and subsequently exhibits a discrete phase transition to a discocyte.