Spontaneous partitioning of particles into cellar structures in a membrane system.
Membranes are often used for material partitioning in biological systems and industry. Here we report a novel physical mechanism of particle partitioning using topological transformation of bilayer membranes. Upon phase separation of a homogeneous sponge phase of a membrane system into a dense sponge and a water phase, we found quite unusual partitioning behavior of particles into the cellar structure of a water phase. The compartments next to one having particles always have no particles, and those next to a compartment having no particles always have particles. We confirm that this partitioning is purely geometrically induced, and thus it may be universal.
Tanaka
Hajime
H
Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Japan.
Isobe
Mamoru
M
Yamamoto
Jun
J
D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008853:Microscopy; D010316:Particle Size; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D014867:Water