Abstract.
The classical micro-pipette aspiration technique, applied for measuring the membrane bending elasticity, is in the present work reviewed and extended to span the range of pipette aspiration pressures going through the flaccid (low pressures) to tense (high pressures) membrane regime. The quality of the conventional methods for analysing data is evaluated using numerically generated data and a new method for data analysis, based on thermodynamic analysis and detailed statistical mechanical modelling, is introduced. The analysis of the classical method, where the membrane bending modulus is obtained from micro-pipette aspiration data acquired in the low-pressure regime, reveals a significant correction from membrane stretching elasticity. The new description, which includes the full vesicle geometry and both the membrane bending and stretching elasticity, is used for the interpretation of micro-pipette aspiration experiments conducted on SOPC (stearoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidyl-choline) lipid vesicles in the fluid phase. The data analysis, which is extended by detailed image analysis and a fitting procedure based on Monte Carlo integration, gives an estimate of the bending modulus, that agrees with previously published results obtained by the use of shape fluctuation analysis of giant unilamellar vesicles. The obtained estimate of the area expansion modulus, is automatically corrected for contributions from residual thermal undulations and the equilibrium area of the vesicle is resolved.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. Canham, J. Theor. Biol. 26, 21 (1970).
W. Helfrich, Z. Naturforsch. C 28, 693 (1973).
E. Evans, Biophys. J. 14, 923 (1974).
F. Brochard, J.F. Lennon, J. Phys. (Paris) 36, 1035 (1975).
F. Brochard, P.G. de Gennes, P. Pfeuty, J. Phys. (Paris) 37, 73 (1976).
R.M. Servuss, W. Harbech, W. Helfrich, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 436, 900 (1976).
H. Engelhardt, H.P. Duwe, E. Sackmann, J. Phys. (Paris) 46, L395 (1985).
J.F. Faucon, M.D. Mitov, P. Méléard, I. Bivas, P. Bothorel, J. Phys. (Paris) 50, 2389 (1989).
J.R. Henriksen, J.H. Ipsen, Eur. Phys. J. E 9, 365 (2002).
E. Evans, W. Rawicz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 2094 (1990).
E. Evans, W. Rawicz, Phys. Rev. E 79, 2379 (1997).
W. Rawicz, K.C. Olbrich, T. McIntosh, D. Needham, E. Evans, Biophys. J. 79, 328 (2000).
P. Meleard, C. Gerbeaud, P. Bardusco, N. Jeandaine, M.D. Mitov, L. Fernandez-Puente, Biochimie 80, 401 (1998).
L.V. Hung, D.E. Block, M.L. Longo, Langmuir 18, 8988 (2002).
U. Seifert, Adv. Phys. 46, 13 (1997).
F. David, S. Leibler, J. Phys. II 1, 959 (1991).
H.B. Callen, Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, 2nd ed. (John Wiley and Sons).
J. Lemmich, K. Mortensen, J.H. Ipsen, T. Hønger, R. Bauer, K. Jørgensen, O. Mouritsen, Mod. Phys. Lett. B 8, 1803 (1994).
J.-B. Fournier, A. Ajdari, L. Peliti, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4970 (2001).
D. Marsh, Biophys. J. 73, 865 (1997).
R. Lipowsky, in Structure and Dynamics of Membranes, Vol. 1B, edited by R. Lipowsky, E. Sackmann (Elsevier, 1995).
E. Evans, R. Skalak, Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Biomembranes (CRS Press Inc., 1980).
W. Helfrich, R.-M. Servuss, Nuovo Cimento D 3, 137 (1984).
N. Metropolis, A.W. Rosenbluth, M.N. Rosenbluth, A.N. Teller, E. Teller, J. Chem. Phys. 21, 1087 (1953).
M.I. Angelova, S. Soleau, P. Méléard, P. Bothorel, Prog. Colloid. Polym. Sci. 89, 127 (1992).
J.H. Schulman, J.B. Montage, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 92, 366 (1961).
O. Zhong-can, W. Helfrich, Phys. Rev. A 39, 5280 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Received: 24 March 2004, Published online: 15 July 2004
PACS:
68.37.-d Microscopy of surfaces, interfaces, and thin films - 87.16.Dg Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles - 05.70.Np Interface and surface thermodynamics
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Henriksen, J.R., Ipsen, J.H. Measurement of membrane elasticity by micro-pipette aspiration. Eur. Phys. J. E 14, 149–167 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2003-10146-y
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2003-10146-y