Dynamics of vesicle self-assembly and dissolution Dynamics of vesicle self-assembly and dissolution

The dynamics of membranes is studied on the basis of a particle-based meshless surface model, which was introduced earlier [Phys. Rev. E 73, 021903 (2006)]. The model describes fluid membranes with bending energy and-in the case of membranes with boundaries-line tension. The effects of hydrodynamic interactions are investigated by comparing Brownian dynamics with a particle-based mesoscale solvent simulation (multiparticle collision dynamics). Particles self-assemble into vesicles via disk-shaped membrane patches. The time evolution of assembly is found to consist of three steps: particle assembly into discoidal clusters, aggregation of clusters into larger membrane patches, and finally vesicle formation. The time dependence of the cluster distribution and the mean cluster size is evaluated and compared with the predictions of Smoluchowski rate equations. On the other hand, when the line tension is suddenly decreased (or the temperature is increased), vesicles dissolve via pore formation in the membrane. Hydrodynamic interactions are found to speed up the dynamics in both cases. Furthermore, hydrodynamics makes vesicle more spherical in the membrane-closure process. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.