Mechanical Properties of Giant Liposomes Compressed between Two Parallel Plates: Impact of Artificial Actin Shells

The mechanical response of giant liposomes to compression between two parallel plates is investigated in the context of an artificial actin cortex adjacent to the inner leaflet of the bilayer. We found that nonlinear membrane theory neglecting the impact of bending sufficiently describes the mechanical response of liposomes consisting of fluid lipids to compression whereas the formation of an actin cortex or the use of gel-phase lipids generally leads to substantial stiffening of the shell. Giant vesicles are gently adsorbed on glassy surfaces and are compressed with tipless cantilevers using an atomic force microscope. Force–compression curves display a nonlinear response that allows us to determine the membrane tension σ₀ and the area compressibility modulus K_A by computing the contour of the vesicle as a function of the compression depth. The values for K_A of fluid membranes correspond well to what is known from micropipet-suction experiments and computed from monitoring membrane undulations. The presence of a thick actin shell adjacent to the inner leaflet of the liposome membrane stiffens the system considerably, as mirrored in a significantly higher apparent area compressibility modulus.