Abstract
The competition between adhesion and tether formation in bound vesicles is investigated. A theoretical model is developed in which tethers are induced by the application of a pulling force to the top of a strongly adhered vesicle. A critical onset force is identified where the tether spontaneously appears as part of a first order shape transition. Further growth of the tether initiates a detachment process that culminates in a continuous unbinding of the vesicle at a finite detachment force. Both critical forces, as well as all shape parameters, are calculated as a function of the reduced volume and the strength of adhesive potential.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 208101 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 92 |
| Issue number | 20 |
| State | Published - 21 May 2004 |