Application of self-consistent field theory to self-assembled bilayer membranes

(整期优先)网络出版时间:2015-12-22
/ 1
Bilayermembranesself-assembledfromamphiphilicmoleculessuchaslipids,surfactants,andblockcopolymersareubiquitousinbiologicalandphysiochemicalsystems.Theshapeandstructureofbilayermembranesdependcruciallyontheirmechanicalpropertiessuchassurfacetension,bendingmoduli,andlinetension.Understandinghowthemolecularpropertiesoftheamphiphilesdeterminethestructureandmechanicsoftheself-assembledbilayersrequiresamolecularlydetailedtheoreticalframework.Theself-consistentfieldtheoryprovidessuchatheoreticalframework,whichiscapableofaccuratelypredictingthemechanicalparametersofself-assembledbilayermembranes.Inthisminireviewwesummarizetheformulationoftheself-consistentfieldtheory,asexemplifiedbyamodelsystemcomposedofflexibleamphiphilicchainsdissolvedinhydrophilicpolymericsolvents,anditsapplicationtothestudyofself-assembledbilayermembranes.