Monolayer slip effects on the dynamics of a lipid bilayer vesicle in a viscous flow

The dynamics of a closed lipid bilayer membrane (a vesicle) in a linear viscous flow is investigated. The model accounts for the transport of lipids along each monolayer and intermonolayer friction, as well as the membrane fluidity, incompressibility and resistance to bending. Assuming a nearly spherical vesicle, the leading order analysis results in a nonlinear coupled system of equations for the dynamics of the shape and the bilayer density difference. Multiple solution states are found as a function of viscosity ratio and the monolayer slip coefficient. The dynamics and stability of these solutions is discussed.