In the present study fluorescence microscopy is used in order to investigat
e the light-induced shape transitions of giant unilamellar vesicles. Theref
ore pyrene was solubilized in the lipophilic core of the bilayer which allo
ws the transformation of the shape of unilamellar vesicles upon UV irradiat
ion. It turns out that tubular vesicles tend to collapse after illumination
forming a string of nearly monodisperse spherical pearls. Giant unilamella
r spherical vesicles with small excess areas can be changed reversibly into
elliptical aggregates after irradiation with UV light.