title: Lateral inhomogeneous lipid membranes: theoretical aspects.
abstract: The physical concepts underlying the lateral distribution of the components forming a lamellar assembly of amphiphiles are discussed in this review. The role of amphiphiles' molecular structure and/or aqueous environment (ionic strength, water soluble substances) on formation and stability of lateral patterns is investigated. A considerable effort is devoted to the analysis of the properties of patterned structure which can be different from those of randomly mixed multi-component lamellae. Examples include adhesion and fusion among laterally inhomogeneous bilayers, enhanced interfacial adsorption of ions and polymers, enhanced transport across the bilayer, modified mechanical properties, local stabilization of non-planar geometries (pores, edges) and related phenomena (electroporation, budding transition and so on). Furthermore, an analysis of chemical reactivity within or at the water interface of a laterally inhomogeneous bilayer is briefly discussed. A link between these concepts and experimental findings taken from the biological literature is attempted throughout the review.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raudino
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D007477:Ions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008567:Membranes, Artificial