Membrane simulation models from nanometer to micrometer scale

Abstract

Recent developments in lipid membrane models for simulations are reviewed. To reduce computational costs, various coarse-grained molecular models have been proposed. Among them, implicit solvent (solvent-free) molecular models are relatively more coarse-grained and efficient for simulating large bilayer membranes. On a um scale, the molecular details are typically negligible and the membrane can be described as a continuous curved surface. The theoretical models for fluid and elastic membranes with mesh or meshless discretizations are presented. As examples of applications, the dynamics of vesicles in flows, vesicle formation, and membrane fusion are presented. © 2009 The Physical Society of Japan.