Simulation of adsorption kinetics of lipid vesicles

Employing the Monte Carlo technique, we study the kinetics of vesicle adsor ption at a solid-liquid interface. The proposed model combines a treatment of the surface kinetics, including spontaneous, adsorption- and lipid-membr ane-induced decomposition of adsorbed vesicles, and limitations of the adso rption rate by vesicle diffusion in the solution. With this model, we demon strate different kinetic cases, corresponding to various scenarios of vesic le adsorption and decomposition. The general results are employed to simula te recent experimental kinetic data for adsorption of small phospholipid ve sicles at a SiO2 surface. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-96 06(00)70302-3].