Thermodynamics of a Lipid Membrane with Curvature

The work considers the transverse bending of the surface of a bilayer lipid membrane and the lateral pressure profile in the neutral part of the membrane within the framework of the model of lipid molecules as flexible elastic chains. When the shape of the membrane changes, the lateral pressure profile may also change. Using the renorm group, the addition to the lateral pressure profile during transverse bending of the membrane was calculated. The tilt moduli for several lipid species were calculated. Torsional modulus and Gaussian modulus calculations were performed for model membranes consisting of polymer rods. The results of the calculations are compared with available experimental and molecular dynamics data.