Membrane curvature induced by polymers and colloids

Polymers and colloids change the ‘spontaneous’ curvature of flexible membranes such as lipid bilayers. Two general cases will be discussed: (i) The effect of single polymers or colloids which are anchored or adsorbed to the membranes and exert bending moments on the adjacent membrane segments; and (ii) the effect of unbalanced tensions in the two membrane/water interfaces which arise, e.g., from polymer brushes and from non-anchored polymers or colloids.