title: Deformation analysis of vesicles in an alternating-current electric field.
abstract: In this paper the shape equation for axisymmetric vesicles subjected to an ac electric field is derived on the basis of the liquid-crystal model. The equilibrium morphology of a lipid vesicle is determined by the minimization of its free energy in coupled mechanical and ac electric fields. Besides elastic bending, the effects of the osmotic pressure difference, surface tension, Maxwell pressure, and flexoelectric and dielectric properties of phospholipid membrane as well are taken into account. The influences of elastic bending, osmotic pressure difference, and surface tension on the frequency-dependent behavior of a vesicle membrane in an ac electric field are examined. The singularity of the ac electric field is also investigated. Our theoretical results of vesicle deformation agree well with previous experimental and numerical results. The present study provides insights into the physical mechanisms underpinning the frequency-dependent morphological evolution of vesicles in the electric and mechanical fields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: AML and CNMM, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xi-Qiao
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004560:Electricity; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D013500:Surface Tension
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids