A Review of Continuum Mechanics for Mechanical Deformation of Lipid Membranes

Abstract

Mechanical deformation of lipid membranes plays important roles in various cellular tasks. Curvature deformation and lateral stretching are two major energy contributions to the mechanical deformation of lipid membranes. In this paper, continuum theories for these two major membrane deformation events were reviewed. Theories based on curvature elasticity and lateral surface tension were introduced. Numerical methods as well as biological applications of the theories were discussed.

Keywords

• lipid membranes
• continuum mechanics
• curvature elasticity
• surface tension