Micromechanics of Biomembranes

Abstract

Micromechanics techniques are playing an increasing role in characterization of biomembranes. The mechanical properties of membranes play an important role for a whole range of cellular processes. Lipid-protein biomembranes display lateral heterogeneity, domain formation, and morphological changes at mesoscopic and nanoscopic length scales. An attempt is made to introduce how membrane’s material properties can be measured. Both fluctuation analysis and micro-pipette aspiration experiments have been used to quantify the micromechanics of membranes. The relationship between the structure and function of biomembranes is a critical concern in modern biology. This overview calls for a deeper understanding of how the cell complexity might be related to the mechanical properties of the lipid-protein membrane. Mechanical properties can influence cellular response to processes like adhesion, transport, differentiation, proliferation and migration.