Thermodynamic behavior of two-dimensional vesicles

Abstract

A Monte Carlo simulation of two-dimensional vesicles, modeled as closed, planar, self-avoiding tethered chains is presented. The effects of an internal pressure increment, Δp, and a bending rigidity, κ, on the sizes and shapes is studied. For κ=0 scaling behavior is found, which, in the asymptotic deflated regime, Δp, matches the behavior of branched polymers. For κ>0 various nontrivial equilibrium shapes or cytotypes appear and dynamical behavior reminiscent of nonlinear flickering in real vesicles is found.