Electrostatic properties of membranes: The poisson-boltzmann theory

D. Andelman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

239 Scopus citations

Abstract

This chapter discusses some of the basic considerations underlying the behavior of charged membranes in aqueous solutions. The chapter also describes the electrostatic interactions of membranes. After some general considerations of charged surfaces in liquids and the derivation of the Poisson–Boltzmann equation, the chapter presents specific solutions of several electrostatic problems starting with a single flat and rigid membrane, and then generalizing it to two flat membranes. Then, it considers the possibility of having a flexible membrane in various situations: a single membrane, two membranes, and a stack of membranes. Special emphasis is given to the coupling between the electrostatic and the elastic properties. By considering the membrane as a flexible (and homogeneous) interface, the contribution of the charges to the bending moduli has been found in various electrostatic regimes. Electrostatics tends to rigidify the membranes and also suppresses the out-of-plane fluctuations of a lamellar phase composed of a stack of membranes. However, when the membrane is heterogeneous, electrostatics can induce shape instabilities in relation to a lateral segregation of the two components.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Biological Physics
PublisherElsevier Inc.
Pages603-642
Number of pages40
EditionC
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1995

Publication series

NameHandbook of Biological Physics
NumberC
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1383-8121

Funding

FundersFunder number
German-Israel Binational Foundation
Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

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