Experiments in micro-patterned model membranes support the narrow escape theory

Abstract

Abstract The narrow escape theory (NET) predicts the escape time distribution of Brownian particles confined to a domain with reflecting borders except for one small window. Applications include molecular activation events in cell biology and biophysics. Specifically, the mean first passage time $$\bar{\tau }$$ τ ¯ can be analytically calculated from the size of the domain, the escape window, and the diffusion coefficient of the particles. In this study, we systematically tested the NET in a disc by variation of the escape opening. Our model system consisted of micro-patterned lipid bilayers. For the measurement of $$\bar{\tau }$$ τ ¯ , we imaged diffusing fluorescently-labeled lipids using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy. We overcame the lifetime limitation of fluorescent probes by re-scaling the measured time with the fraction of escaped particles. Experiments were complemented by matching stochastic numerical simulations. To conclude, we confirmed the NET prediction in vitro and in silico for the disc geometry in the limit of small escape openings, and we provide a straightforward solution to determine $$\bar{\tau }$$ τ ¯ from incomplete experimental traces.