Active Particles Destabilize Passive Membranes
Soft Condensed Matter
2026-05-22 v3
Abstract
We present a theory for the interaction between active particles and a passive flexible membrane. By explicitly solving for the pressure exerted by the active particles, we show that they reduce the membrane tension and bending modulus and introduce novel non-local contributions to the membrane mechanics. This theory predicts activity-induced instabilities and their morphology are in agreement with recent experimental and simulation data.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2601.16430,
title = {Active Particles Destabilize Passive Membranes},
author = {David A. King and Thomas P. Russell and Ahmad K. Omar},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.16430},
year = {2026}
}