Thesis presented December 11, 2008

Abstract:
The goal of this PhD was to design responsive biomimetic objects from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles and PolyNipam solutions or gels. We highlighted the coupling between the lipid membrane and the internal polyNipam medium, which confers those composite vesicles thermoresponsive properties, and the behaviour of such objects during thermal transition has been investigated by quantitative fluorescence studies. We have also measured the influence of the coupling between polyNipam chains and lipid membrane on the bending modulus of the membranes. Then the mechanical properties of the composite vesicles have been measured using micropipette aspiration technique, showing the relevance of those objects as cellular mechanical models. Further studies concerning adhesion properties, membrane tether extrusion and lipid extraction from composite vesicles have been adressed.

Keywords:
giant vesicles, membranes, polyNIPAM, micropipettes

On-line thesis.