The adsorption of polymers onto fluid membranes is a problem of fundamental interest in biology and soft materials, in part because the flexibility of membranes can lead to nontrivial coupling between polymer and membrane configurations. Here, we use Monte Carlo computer simulations to study the adsorption of a semiflexible polymer onto a fluid membrane vesicle. Polymer adsorption can significantly impact both the vesicle and polymer shapes, and we identify distinct classes of configurations that emerge as a function of polymer persistence length, membrane bending rigidity, adsorption strength, and vesicle size. Large-scale deformations of the vesicle include invaginations of the membrane that internalize the polymer in a membrane bud. The buds range from disk-like shapes surrounding a collapsed polymer to tubular deformations enveloping rod-like polymers. For small vesicles, polymer adsorption also induces dumbbell-like vesicle shapes with a narrow membrane constriction circled by the polymer. Vesicles with sufficiently small or large bending rigidities adopt configurations similar to those without the polymer present. We further characterize statistical properties of the membrane and polymer configurations and identify distinct classes of polymer configurations that emerge within membrane buds. Analysis of idealized polymer–membrane configurations provides additional insight into transitions between bud shapes.

中文翻译：

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通过吸附半柔性聚合物来塑造膜小泡

聚合物在流体膜上的吸附是生物学和软材料领域最基本的问题，部分原因是膜的柔韧性会导致聚合物和膜结构之间的非平凡偶联。在这里，我们使用蒙特卡洛计算机模拟来研究半柔性聚合物在流体膜囊泡上的吸附。聚合物的吸附可以显着影响囊泡和聚合物的形状，我们确定了不同种类的构型，这些构型随聚合物的持久长度，膜弯曲刚度，吸附强度和囊泡大小而变。囊泡的大规模变形包括使内在膜芽中的聚合物内化的膜的内陷。芽的形状从围绕塌陷的聚合物的盘状形状到包围棒状聚合物的管状变形不等。对于小囊泡，聚合物吸附还会引起哑铃状囊泡形状，并带有一个由聚合物环绕的狭窄的膜收缩物。具有足够小的或大的弯曲刚度的囊泡采用类似于不存在聚合物的囊泡的构造。我们进一步表征膜和聚合物构型的统计特性，并确定出现在膜芽内的聚合物构型的不同类别。理想化的聚合物-膜构型的分析提供了对芽形之间过渡的更多了解。具有足够小的或大的弯曲刚度的囊泡采用类似于不存在聚合物的囊泡的构造。我们进一步表征膜和聚合物构型的统计特性，并确定出现在膜芽内的聚合物构型的不同类别。理想化的聚合物-膜构型的分析提供了对芽形之间过渡的更多了解。具有足够小的或大的弯曲刚度的囊泡采用类似于不存在聚合物的囊泡的构造。我们进一步表征膜和聚合物构型的统计特性，并确定出现在膜芽内的聚合物构型的不同类别。理想化的聚合物-膜构型的分析提供了对芽形之间过渡的更多了解。