Mechanics of POPC bilayers in presence of alkali salts
Résumé
Membranes mechanical properties are affected by solvent properties, i.e. the salt content. In this study, we use POPC GUVs (Giant Unilamellar Vesicles) as model membranes and we measure the membrane mechanical moduli by flickering analysis and micropipette technique for a series of alkali salt solutions. Salt concentration effects and ion specificity are investigated in these measurements. Membrane mechanical moduli are shown to display a complex dependence on the salt solution composition.