Impermeability effects in three-dimensional vesicles

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the impermeability constraint influences the equilibrium shapes of 3D vesicles with rigid inclusions, revealing shape modifications and non-uniqueness of solutions due to volume constraints.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the effects of impermeability on vesicle shape and highlights the impact of volume constraints on equilibrium configurations.

Findings

Impermeability causes significant shape changes in vesicles.

Volume constraints lead to non-unique equilibrium shapes.

Shape variations include pear-shaped and stomatocyte-like vesicles.

Abstract

We analyse the effects that the impermeability constraint induces on the equilibrium shapes of a three-dimensional vesicle hosting a rigid inclusion. A given alteration of the inclusion and/or vesicle parameters leads to shape modifications of different orders of magnitude, when applied to permeable or impermeable vesicles. Moreover, the enclosed-volume constraint wrecks the uniqueness of stationary equilibrium shapes, and gives rise to pear-shaped or stomatocyte-like vesicles.