SUPPORTING MEMBRANE SHAPE INSTABILITY IN THE PRESENCE OF STRONGLY ADSORBED FLEXIBLE POLYMERS

Strongly adsorbed polymers are shown to undergo an isotropic-nematic s urface-ordering transition as a consequence of interactions mediated b y the supporting elastic membrane. Depending on the elastic coupling r atio between the membrane and polymer elasticity, the supporting membr ane can concurrently undergo a transition into either preferred saddle or tubular shapes. It is argued that this scenario is relevant for th e initial stages of the DNA-cationic liposome interactions.