Fluctuation spectroscopy of giant unilamellar vesicles using confocal and phase contrast microscopy
Hammad A. Faizi, Cody J. Reeves, Vasil N. Georgiev, Petia M. Vlahovska, Rumiana Dimova
Abstract
A widely used method to measure the bending rigidity of bilayer membranes is fluctuation spectroscopy, which analyses the thermally-driven membrane undulations of giant unilamellar vesicles recorded with either phase-contrast or confocal microscopy. Here, we analyze the fluctuations of the same vesicle using both techniques and obtain consistent values for the bending modulus. We discuss the factors that may lead to discrepancies.
Topics & Concepts
VesicleConfocalBilayerLipid bilayerConfocal microscopyFlexural rigidityMembraneBiophysicsSpectroscopyPhase (matter)MicroscopyChemistryMaterials scienceBendingConfocal laser scanning microscopyPhase contrast microscopyLiposomeAnalytical Chemistry (journal)Measure (data warehouse)Rigidity (electromagnetism)Lipid vesiclePhase imagingMicroscopeVesicle fusionChemical physicsBiological membraneForce spectroscopyAtomic force microscopyAdvanced Fluorescence Microscopy TechniquesLipid Membrane Structure and BehaviorDigital Holography and Microscopy