MEMBRANE-INDUCED INTERACTIONS BETWEEN INCLUSIONS

We investigate theoretically the effect of embedded inclusions on memb rane structure, and the corresponding membrane-induced interactions be tween inclusions. We find that the membrane thickness, which is pertur bed from its equilibrium value by the coupling to the embedded inclusi ons, decays non-monotonically with distance from the inclusion boundar y. As a result, the membrane-induced interactions between inclusions v ary non monotonically with spacing. The periodicity of the perturbatio n profile, as well as the strength and range of the induced interactio ns, are proportional to the ratio of the amphiphile bending modulus an d compressibility. In systems where the inclusions impose a thickness- matching constraint, the induced interactions are attractive. However, the presence of an energy barrier at a finite spacing may hinder aggr egation. In systems where the inclusions impose a specific contact-ang le, the interaction energy is minimal at a finite inclusion spacing.