Analytical expressions for the shape of axisymmetric membranes with multiple domains

Abstract

Based on the Canham-Helfrich free energy, we derive analytical expressions for the shapes of axisymmetric membranes consisting of multiple domains.We give explicit equations for both closed vesicles and almost cylindrical tubes. Using these expressions, we also find the shape of a tube attached to a spherical vesicle. The resulting shapes compare well to numerical data, and our expressions can be used to easily determine membrane parameters from experimentally obtained shapes. © The Author(s) 2011.