Statistical physics applied to lipid membranes

The cell membrane is one of the most important topics of study for physical chemists of soft matter since it is an essential element of the cell and is the seat of a multitude of processes essential for the survival of a cell. Moreover the theoretical tools of statistical physics lend themselves well to the study of this type of object. To understand the interactions that govern these membrane structures they have used model systems i.e. systems that are first composed of one or two types of lipids and then have added a membrane inclusion (proteins polymers). This book describes some aspects that have been the subject of our research published in scientific journals. Chapter 1 is devoted to generalities on biological membranes as well as a brief reminder on the grafting of polymers onto membranes. The influence of the presence of a planar wall interacting with the membrane on its fluctuations properties will be described in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is devoted to the study of lipid membranes supported and attached to the surface by lipopolymers.Chapter 4 describes the lateral phase separation in biomembranes.