Repulsions and attractions between membrane-deforming spheres, Janus-particles, and opposite tube-like deformations in giant unilamellar vesicles

Lipid membrane deformations have been predicted to lead to indirect forces between the objects that induce these deformations. Recent experimental measurements have found an attractive interaction between spherical particles that all induce a deformation towards the inside of a giant unilamellar vesicle. Here, we complement these experimental observations by investigating the interactions between deformations pointing in opposite directions with respect to the membrane normal vector. This is experimentally realized by a particle deforming the membrane towards the inside of the GUV and pulling a membrane tube towards the outside of the membrane. Particles completely wrapped by the membrane are repelled from the tube with a strength of 3 <i>k</i>_B<i>T</i> at a distance of 0.5 μm. However, particles that strongly curve the membrane by adhering only to a patch of about 50% of its surface area are attracted to the center of the tube with a strength of -5.3 <i>k</i>_B<i>T</i> at a minimum distance of about 1 μm. We find that such Janus particles also experience attractive interactions when both deforming the membrane in the same way. These quantitative experimental observations provide new insights into interactions between oppositely membrane deforming objects, important for cooperative protein assembly at or interactions of microplastics with cell membranes.