Elastic, electrostatic and electrokinetic forces influencing membrane curvature

Abstract Many cellular and intracellular processes critically depend on membrane shape, but the shape generating mechanisms are still to be fully understood. In this study we evaluate how electrostatic/electrokinetic forces contribute to membrane curvature. Membrane bilayer had finite thickness and was either elastically anisotropic or anisotropic overall, but isotropic per sections (heads and tails). The physics of the situation was evaluated using a coupled system of elastic and electrostatic/electrokinetic (Poisson–Nernst–Planck) equations. The fixed charges present only on the upper membrane surface lead to the accumulation of counter-ions and depletion of co-ions that decay spatially very rapidly (Debye length