Modeling analysis of the lipid bilayer-cytoskeleton coupling in erythrocyte membrane

Abstract

Studies of thermal fluctuations in discocytes, echinocytes, and spherocytes suggest that the coupling between lipid bilayer and cytoskeleton can affect viscoelastic behavior of single erythrocyte membranes. To test this hypothesis, we developed a 3D constitutive model describing viscoelastic behavior of erythrocyte membranes, at long relaxation times [Formula: see text] and short relaxation times [Formula: see text]. The model was constructed using combination of spring and spring pot rheological elements arranged in parallel. The rearrangement of cytoskeleton induced by changing the bending state of lipid bilayer was described by a modified Eyring model. The model predictions point to an anomalous nature of energy dissipation and an ordered harmonic nature of the coupling mechanism described by a series of fractional derivatives of the order n [Formula: see text] (where [Formula: see text]). As a result, the stress generated within the lipid bilayer is related to the rate of change of the irreversible stress within the cytoskeleton.