Equilibrium theory and geometrical constraint equation for two-component lipid bilayer vesicles.

This paper aims at the general mathematical framework for the equilibrium theory of two-component lipid bilayer vesicles. To take into account the influences of the local compositions together with the mean curvature and Gaussian curvature of the membrane surface, a general potential functional is constructed. We introduce two kinds of virtual displacement modes: the normal one and the tangential one. By minimizing the potential functional, the equilibrium differential equations and the boundary conditions of two-component lipid vesicles are derived. Additionally, the geometrical constraint equation and geometrically permissible condition for the two-component lipid vesicles are presented. The physical, mathematical, and biological meanings of the equilibrium differential equations and the geometrical constraint equations are discussed. The influences of physical parameters on the geometrically permissible phase diagrams are predicted. Numerical results can be used to explain recent experiments.