title: Shape optimization in lipid nanotube networks.
abstract: Starting from a high surface free-energy state, lipid nanotube networks are capable to self-organize into tree-like structures with particular geometrical features. In this work we analyze the process of self-organization in such networks, and report a strong similarity to the Euclidian Steiner Tree Problem (ESTP). ESTP is a well-known NP-hard optimization problem of finding a network connecting a given set of terminal points on a plane, allowing addition of auxiliary points, with the overall objective to minimize the total network length. The present study shows that aggregate lipid structures self-organize into geometries that correspond to locally optimal solutions to such problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Microtechnology Centre, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lobovkina
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Dommersnes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiourine
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Joanny
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Orwar
mesh_terms: D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes