ELECTROSTATIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN 2 ION-PENETRABLE CHARGED MEMBRANES

The electrostatic interactions between two ion-penetrable charged membranes are investigated theoretically. Here, the effect of Donnan potential on the electrostatic repulsion between two membranes, and the potential and pH distributions across a membrane are investigated. The present analysis extends those of H. Ohshima and T. Kondo (J. Theor. Biol. 124, 191 (1987) and J. Theor. Biol. 128, 187 (1987)) in that the fixed charges are distributed nonuniformly across a surface layer of the membrane. We show that the distribution of the fixed charges in the surface layers of two ion-penetrable membranes has a significant effect on their electrostatic interactions. Thus, assuming that the fixed charges are homogeneously distributed in the surface of a membrane may lead to a serious deviation. © 1993 by Academic Press, Inc.