Langmuir, Vol.13, No.18, 4791-4794, 1997
Supporting Membrane Shape Instability in the Presence of Strongly Adsorbed Flexible Polymers
Strongly adsorbed polymers are shown to undergo an isotropic-nematic surface-ordering transition as a consequence of interactions mediated by the supporting elastic membrane. Depending on the elastic coupling ratio between the membrane and polymer elasticity, the supporting membrane can concurrently undergo a transition into either preferred saddle or tubular shapes. It is argued that this scenario is relevant for the initial stages of the DNA-cationic liposome interactions.