We develop tools to assess membrane mechanics, rheology, electrical properties, permeability, adhesion
Numerous factors affect the properties of membranes. We have developed and employ an arsenal of techniques to measure mechanical properties such as the bending rigidity (fluctuation analysis, electrodeformation), membrane spontaneous curvature (tube pulling, vesicle shape analysis), the stretching elasticity (micropipette aspiration) and assess membrane tension from super-resolution imaging of tubes. Apart from that, we have elaborated approaches for measuring pore edge tension, adhesion, membrane capacitance, permeability, shear surface viscosity (falling-ball viscosimeter, electrodeformation).
 Assessing membrane material properties from the response of giant unilamellar vesicles to electric fields, M. Aleksanyan, H.A. Faizi, M.-A. Kirmpaki, P.M. Vlahovska, K.A. Riske and R. Dimova, Adv. Phys.: X, 8, 2125342 (2023) [PDF] | |
| Giant vesicles and their use in assays for assessing membrane phase state, curvature, mechanics and electrical properties, R. Dimova, Annu. Rev. Biophys. 48, 93-119 (2019) [PDF] | |
| Recent developments in the field of bending rigidity measurements on membranes, R. Dimova, Adv. Coll. Interf. Sci., 208, 225–234 (2014) [PDF] | |
| A practical guide to giant vesicles. Probing the membrane nanoregime via optical microscopy, R. Dimova et al. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 18, S1151-S1176 (2006) [PDF] |
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