Dual network model for red blood cell membranes

Abstract

A two-component network is studied by Monte Carlo simulation to model the lipid/spectrin membrane of red blood cells. The model predicts that the shear modulus decreases rapidly with the maximum length of the model spectrin and should be in the 10-7 J/m2 range for human red blood cells. A simplified model for the isolated spectrin network shows a negative Lamé coefficient λ. Transverse fluctuations of the dual membrane are found to be fluidlike over the range of wavelengths investigated.